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Issues & Experts Archive > Week of Nov. 25 – Dec. 2, 2002
Week of Nov. 25 – Dec. 2, 2002
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Nov 26, 2002
The fate of Romanow’s recommendations…Healthcare providers, policy analysts, politicians and taxpayers are anxiously awaiting the contents of Roy Romanow’s report on the Canadian healthcare system. After listening to hundreds of presentations throughout Canada over the last several months, the country’s healthcare commissioner is handing down his recommendations (Wednesday, Nov. 27) on how to bolster our ailing medical system. SFU political scientist Daniel Cohn says, "Whatever Romanow recommends, I hope he keeps it simple. In the past, task forces, researchers and others have proposed policy solutions that involve inter-related and complex policies that try to finely balance one element with another. In the end, governments have only adopted the recommendations that suit their existing agenda." Cohn, an expert on North American health and social policymaking, can provide several concrete examples of ill-fated recommendations. He will also be available to comment on Romanow’s recommendations.
Daniel Cohn, 604.291.5667, daniel_cohn@sfu.ca
(not available Nov 28, 11am-5pm or Nov. 29 before 2:30pm)
Labour gets organized…As the BC Federation of Labour holds its convention this week, SFU labour historian Mark Leier says the movement faces an uphill battle in opposing the current Liberal government. "In Canada, every level of government has been rolling back the rights of working people, while business has been cutting jobs and wages," says Leier, who is attending the convention as an observer and can comment on its proceedings and results. "The laws on organizing and striking have been reworked to make it more difficult for people to fight back and win." As a result, he says many union members are asking, at what point is it right to refuse to obey unjust laws? "Historically, the most effective way to express political opposition is through the labour movement, and that remains true today." Leier says when governments refuse to listen, workers have always found other ways to defend themselves, noting tactics such as wildcat strikes in the 1970s and 80s, sit-in strikes in the 1930s and 40s and the general strikes in early 20s. "Those are just some of the historical examples of how workers mobilize when the law is rigged to prevent free expression and democratic resistance," says Leier. "BC is already seeing some of this now."
Mark Leier, 604.291.5827; mark_leier@sfu.ca (will check for messages)
Following the road signs in BC politics…Time will tell whether the 90 degree turn to the left in Vancouver civic politics is indicative of a larger shift back to the left provincially. SFU political scientist Kennedy Stewart says all signs are pointing in that direction. Referring to the new COPE mayor’s massive win, Stewart says, "That Larry Campbell won a higher percentage of votes in Vancouver in 2002 than the provincial Liberals in 2001 shows a massive swing back to the left in the province’s most important municipality." Stewart also notes, "The fact that the main issue during the civic campaign was providing better and more services to less fortunate members of the community flies in the face of the provincial Liberal policy of service cuts and tax breaks." Stewart can talk further about what the election of the new COPE council may mean provincially.
Kennedy Stewart, 604.268.7913, kennedys@sfu.ca
Daniel Cohn, 604.291.5667, daniel_cohn@sfu.ca
(not available Nov 28, 11am-5pm or Nov. 29 before 2:30pm)
Labour gets organized…As the BC Federation of Labour holds its convention this week, SFU labour historian Mark Leier says the movement faces an uphill battle in opposing the current Liberal government. "In Canada, every level of government has been rolling back the rights of working people, while business has been cutting jobs and wages," says Leier, who is attending the convention as an observer and can comment on its proceedings and results. "The laws on organizing and striking have been reworked to make it more difficult for people to fight back and win." As a result, he says many union members are asking, at what point is it right to refuse to obey unjust laws? "Historically, the most effective way to express political opposition is through the labour movement, and that remains true today." Leier says when governments refuse to listen, workers have always found other ways to defend themselves, noting tactics such as wildcat strikes in the 1970s and 80s, sit-in strikes in the 1930s and 40s and the general strikes in early 20s. "Those are just some of the historical examples of how workers mobilize when the law is rigged to prevent free expression and democratic resistance," says Leier. "BC is already seeing some of this now."
Mark Leier, 604.291.5827; mark_leier@sfu.ca (will check for messages)
Following the road signs in BC politics…Time will tell whether the 90 degree turn to the left in Vancouver civic politics is indicative of a larger shift back to the left provincially. SFU political scientist Kennedy Stewart says all signs are pointing in that direction. Referring to the new COPE mayor’s massive win, Stewart says, "That Larry Campbell won a higher percentage of votes in Vancouver in 2002 than the provincial Liberals in 2001 shows a massive swing back to the left in the province’s most important municipality." Stewart also notes, "The fact that the main issue during the civic campaign was providing better and more services to less fortunate members of the community flies in the face of the provincial Liberal policy of service cuts and tax breaks." Stewart can talk further about what the election of the new COPE council may mean provincially.
Kennedy Stewart, 604.268.7913, kennedys@sfu.ca