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Progressive news, views and ideas
EST/ÉTABLI
1980
MAY/JUNE 2021
Founded in 1980, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is a registered charitable research
institute and Canada’s leading source of progressive policy ideas, with offices in Ottawa, Vancouver, Regina,
Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax. The CCPA founded the Monitor magazine in 1994 to share and promote its
progressive research and ideas, as well as those of like-minded Canadian and international voices.
The Monitor is mailed to all CCPA supporters who give a minimum of $35 a year to the Centre.
Write us at monitor@policyalternatives.ca if you would like to receive the Monitor.
Vol. 28, No. 1 Contributors
ISSN 1198-497X
Canada Post Publication 40009942 Hanna Araza (she/her) is a Robert Hackett (he/him) is Lui Kashungnao (she/her),
The Monitor is published six times recent graduate of Simon Fraser Professor Emeritus with the GottaGo! Campaign Core
a year by the Canadian Centre for University where she studied School of Communication at Member. Lui is a proud mother
Policy Alternatives. Communications and Print & Simon Fraser University. and an outdoor enthusiast. She
Digital Publishing. She is passionate Stephanie Hart Taylor (she/ has a background in community
The opinions expressed in the about intersectional climate her) GottaGo! Campaign Core organizing and advocacy, and
Monitor are those of the authors justice, community care, and using Member. Stephanie holds a BFA international development. She
and do not necessarily reflect environmental communication and Diploma of Social Service enjoys conducting research,
the views of the CCPA. as a vital tool in strengthening Work (Gerontology). Currently, evaluation and training. Lui has
Please send feedback to collective efficacy and co-creating she’s completing a BSW. Her two master's degrees, with a focus
monitor@policyalternatives.ca. sustainable futures. research interests include weight on participatory development and
Jennifer Chen (she/her) (B.Sc., discrimination and health care. rights-based approach.
Editor: Katie Raso
M.Sc.) is President of the Women She enjoys community organizing, Shoshana Magnet (she/her)
Senior Designer: Tim Scarth
of Colour Community Leadership program development and making is professor in the Institute of
Layout: Susan Purtell
Initiative Manitoba. She is a board pottery. Feminist and Gender Studies.
Editorial Board: Trish Hennessy,
member for Family Dynamics, Sam Hersh (he/him) is a political Previous books include When
Shannon Daub, Katie Raso,
Asian Heritage Society of and community organizer based Biometrics Fail: Race, Gender and
Erika Shaker, Rick Telfer,
Manitoba, Ethnocultural Council of in Ottawa. He is an organizer and the Technology of Identity (Duke
Jason Moores
Manitoba, and Canadian Centre for Board Member with the grassroots, UP, 2011) and Feminist Surveillance
Contributing Writers: Policy Alternatives. Studies (co-edited with Rachel
municipalist organization Horizon
Alex Hemingway, Elaine Hughes, Dubrofsky, Duke UP, 2014).
Maria Doiron (she/her), GottaGo! Ottawa. He believes that bridging
Anthony N. Morgan, Stuart Trew.
Campaign Core Member. Maria the gap between social movements Luxe Mulvari (she/her) is a
CCPA National Office is studying Bachelor of Social and electoral-based politics is millennial, philanthropist, and
141 Laurier Avenue W, Suite 1000 Work at Carleton University. She key to creating change from the erotic capitalist. She is one of
Ottawa, ON K1P 5J3 is entering her final year in the bottom-up. the founders of Hit the Streets!
Tel: 613-563-1341 BSW program, with a minor in law. Ottawa.
Sharee Hochman (she/her) will
Fax: 613-233-1458 Maria’s interests include social be graduating from The University Kevin Philipupillai (he/him) is
ccpa@policyalternatives.ca policy, health, and community of Winnipeg in Spring 2021 with a a journalism student at Carleton
www.policyalternatives.ca practice; she uses critical theory, BA degree in Rhetoric Writing & University. He was previously
CCPA BC Office intersectionality, and anti- Communications and Sociology. a radio producer with AMI, a
520-700 West Pender Street oppressive approaches to guide Her writing career took off when non-profit broadcaster serving
Vancouver, BC V6C 1G8 her work. COVID-19 first hit where she used Canadians who are blind or
Tel: 604-801-5121 Tim Ellis (he/him) is an organizer the pandemics disruptions to pose partially sighted.
Fax: 604-801-5122 with Leadnow, co-Vice Chair of solutions for a more inclusive and
ccpabc@policyalternatives.ca Ann Toohey (she/her) holds a
Democrats Abroad Toronto and an sustainable world as a volunteer PhD in Population & Public Health
CCPA Manitoba Office alum of Bernie Sander’s 2016 and Social Issues Writer for INKspire with a critical gerontology focus.
301-583 Ellice Avenue 2020 campaigns, among others. and as a reporter for the Urban She is the Manager, Research
Winnipeg, MB R3B 1Z7 Tim is an immigrant from upstate Economy Forum. & Scientific Programs for the
Tel: 204-927-3200 New York who fell in love with David Hogan (he/him) is a Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging,
ccpamb@policyalternatives.ca Toronto’s underground dance specialist in geriatric medicine. University of Calgary.
CCPA Nova Scotia Office scene and never looked back. He is the Academic Lead for the
P.O. Box 8355 Paula Ethans (she/her) is a Brenda Strafford Centre on Aging,
Halifax, NS B3K 5M1 writer, organizer, and human rights University of Calgary.
Tel: 902-240-0926 lawyer, from Treaty 1 Territory Declan Ingham (he/him) is a
ccpans@policyalternatives.ca (Winnipeg). researcher focused on building a
CCPA Ontario Office Gavin Fridell (he/him) is Canada workers-first economy and a welfare
720 Bathurst Street, Room 307 Research Chair and Associate state that leaves no one behind.
Toronto, ON M5S 2R4 Professor in International Asad Ismi (he/him) is a Monitor
Tel: 416-598-5985 Development Studies at Saint columnist and radio documentary
ccpaon@policyalternatives.ca Mary’s University in Halifax. maker focusing on the destructive
CCPA Saskatchewan Office Hannah Gelderman (she/ impact of U.S. and Canadian
2nd Floor, 2138 McIntyre Street her) is a settler living in imperialism on the majority world.
Regina, SK S4P 2R7 Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, He holds a PhD in war studies
Tel: 306-924-3372 AB). She is an artist, educator from the University of London
Fax: 306-586-5177 and organizer working at the (U.K.) and taught for two years
ccpasask@sasktel.net intersection of visual arts and at the Institute for International Katie Sheedy (she/her) is an
climate justice. Relations in Hanoi, Vietnam. illustrator and graphic designer
living and working in Ottawa.
Up Front
Wealth tax would raise far more money
than previously thought
Alex Hemingway / 5
Canada and the COVID-19 waiver
Gavin Fridell / 8
Enforcing the new NAFTA,
but for workers or the bosses?
Stuart Trew / 10
“The first thing we do,
let’s kill all the lawyers.”
Anthony Morgan / 14 In Focus
Reinvigorating climate organizing
Features Paula Ethans / 18
Alphabet workers go wall-to-wall An organized system of organized labour
Kevin Philipupillai / 12 Declan Ingham / 20
The farmers’ protests The oil blotter
and the looting of India Robert Hackett and Hanna Araza / 22
Asad Ismi / 16
Organizing accessibility
Perspectives and intersectionality
through 15-minute cities
Trust and relationships Sharee Hochman / 27
in community organizing
Jennifer Chen / 11 The Bernie blueprint
Tim Ellis / 31
The future is municipal
Sam Hersh / 25 Staples
Public toilets—unquestionable From the Editor / 2
and essential public health infrastructure
Maria Doiron, Lui Kashungnao, Letters / 3
Stephanie Hart Taylor / 30 New from the CCPA / 4
Hit the Streets Index / 7
Luxe Mulvari / 34
CCPA Donor Profile / 26
Worth Repeating / 33
The Good News Page
Elaine Hughes / 36
Get to Know the CCPA:
Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood / 37
Picture books for big feelings
Shoshana Magnet / 38
More than an urgent need
Ann M. Toohey and David B. Hogan / 39
From the Editor
KATIE RASO
What’s below the surface
I
HAVE SOIL on my mind. fungi (AMF), and they are known is wrapped up in the ethos of “one
It’s partially the time of the to support 85% of plant families, great man” —the single visionary
year—I just nestled 144 seeds into including major agricultural crops, who leads the way, corrects the
their starter pods today. Seedling trees and grasses. course and guides us forward. But
day is one of quiet awe for me. I I think a lot about about unseen organizing is inherently a collective
love to set up at the kitchen table, fungus networks, how an ectomy- action, recognizing that everyone has
carefully dropping each seed into corrhizal mushroom that pops up a role to play in shaping an equitable
its new home, covering it over, then in my yard seems to have arrived and just future. So much of the work
sitting back to marvel at the idea that out of nowhere overnight but is, in is unseen: the sharing of knowledge,
the future contents of my winter fact, part of a large, intricate system resources and food across our
pantry, hours of fall canning, and that extends beyond the property largely invisible channels.
the ripest, freshest flavours of my lines for my garden (a single fungus’ There are powerful, loving,
summer—at this point, they all fit in mycelium network can extend over life-sustaining networks of
two trays on my table, dormant. six square kilometres) and predates hardworking people committed to
We moved into our house two my arrival in this place (it’s believed creating better futures connected
years ago and were blessed to find that plants started trading with fungi from end to end across this country,
a yard that had been left to grow roughly 400 million years ago). in this moment. They are caring for
without pesticide or much distur- If you’re wondering if this editorial people that brutalist policies have
bance. The result is a supernetwork is supposed to be running in the failed. They are organizing workers
of fungal activity. After every big upcoming issue on food, I promise it in previously non-unionized fields.
rain, a new type of mushroom is not misplaced. Part of the reason They are imagining hopeful futures
blooms in a different corner of that I think so much about soil and beyond fossil fuels.
the yard. Prior to this, I had never fungus networks is that I am fascinat- It is my hope that the articles in
realized how at the mercy you are to ed by the similarities between these this issue provide a peek behind
the last homeowner’s predilections systems and the systems of commu- the curtain, or perhaps below the
for RoundUp. And I’m grateful to nity care, activism and mutual aid surface, at this work and how it is
Judith, the previous owner, for that exist all around us. Unless they resisting inequity to shape a just
her stewardship of this place that are part of our own networks, we are future.
has made it a safe and successful rarely aware of them until a boiling Before I close, I would be remiss
home for our bounty of tomatoes, point or milestone makes them if I didn’t acknowledge my own
peppers, squash, and sunflowers. visible. It can seem that an issue unseen network for this issue. I had
Judith’s wisdom, to let the soil appears overnight, when a move- the privilege of working with Kevin
be, is shared by many organic ment suddenly comes within public Philipupillai on this issue. In addition
farmers across the country. There’s view. But our lack of experience to providing thought-provoking re-
a growing no-till movement that with an issue is not the same as the search for our Index, Kevin’s feature
recognizes the critical role that related network not existing. article on the Alphabet Workers
fungal networks play in the growth I think about soil and community Union truly speaks to both the
and survival of plant life. Mycorrhizal networks, how the latter don’t just opportunities and challenges facing
fungi form symbiotic relationships shape the lives of those within the the future of worker organizing. I
with plants, exchanging nutrients network, they deliver hard-fought want to thank him for his incredible
as part of the soil food web. While victories for the society as a whole. efforts and energy. M
plants can access sugar through pho- Organizing is the network that
tosynthesis, they may need to gain carries change through our commu-
access to additional water, nutrients nities and sustains us. And I think
and protection against pathogens. about how every young organizer
These are offerings that mycorrhizal I speak with wants to talk not only
fungi exchange for the plant’s excess about the future but about the rich
sugars. The most common mycor- history that makes their work pos-
rhizal are the arbuscular mycorrhizal sible. So much of Western culture
2
were some new affordable Thanks for all you do. energy is much cheaper
housing investments, Linda Munroe than wind for space
although on a much less heating and industrial
generous basis than the heat applications. Further,
programs abandoned in The nuclear option nuclear downtime can be
the 1990s. scheduled for low demand
Bill Johnston, Chair, I’d like to refute arguments periods or on a rotation
Affordable Housing Team, made in Ramana and if there are 10+ reactors,
First Unitarian Church of Schacherl’s article on as Ontario has, however,
Letters Hamilton nuclear power in the Jan/
Feb issue of the Monitor.
wind power follows its own
schedule and so requires
First, the article’s more backup power.
Highlighting India’s portrayal of nuclear safety Finally, every wind farm
Credit where it’s due farmer protests and waste result from the site has different costs and
misleading idea that any wind availability.
In his otherwise excellent I read the most recent amount of radiation can The third error concerns
article in the Monitor on issue of the (March/April) be deadly. For example, what an SMR is for. The
the right to housing, Paul Monitor with great inter- decades ago people article suggests an SMR in
Taylor repeated a common est. I found the articles became convinced that Canada’s North would be
error, that cuts to housing engaging and I appreciate plutonium in nuclear waste for electricity generation.
programs “were deepened hearing points of view is extremely toxic and will In fact, they produce heat
in 1993 when Paul Martin, being expressed by diverse cause harm thousands of first, then electricity. A
in his role as finance Canadian voices. The focus years from now. This is SMR can be sized for the
minister, abruptly can- on housing and health care not true. Radiation is only community and produce
celled all spending on new is critical—understanding dangerous at high dose both heat and electric-
social housing projects.” that the environment rates. ity for: industry, space
It wasn’t Paul Martin who trumps everything. The idea that there is no heating, clean water, and
did that; it was the last In particular—I loved safe level of radiation has residential use.
budget of Brian Mulroney’s André Picard’s Five books caused serious harm. By SMR and CANDU power
Conservative in April 1993, to understand…a pandem- contrast to the excellent plants can be run safely
with Don Mazankowski as ic. I have read two of the safety record enjoyed by and reduce greenhouse
finance minister. See page books and I am looking nuclear power in Canada, gas and other pollutants.
55 of the 1993 budget forward to the others. Health Canada estimates The federal government
on the Government of I loved Hadrian Mer- there are 14,600 air wants to build SMR in
Canada’s website for more tins-Kirkwood’s Parable pollution deaths per year Canada’s North because it
information. of Two Roads. I found the in Canada. Nuclear power will provide reliable heat,
Martin’s first budget Index informative as well as reactors and Small Modular clean water, electricity, and
was in early 1994. And in the articles and opinions. Reactors (SMR) have neg- process heat for residents,
his 1996 budget, he went I loved the graphic art by ligible greenhouse gases or mines, and industry. Critics
a step further on social Katie Sheedy—somehow it other emissions, conse- of nuclear power would
housing, announcing that hit the spot! I also appreci- quently, nuclear decreases have us use only renewa-
the federal government ated the editorial. the number of air pollution bles; let’s listen to reason.
“will phase out its remain- I wonder if there would deaths by allowing coal Ken Chaplin
ing role in social housing, be a place in the Monitor plants to shut down. We
except for housing on for reporting and analysis are in the strange situation
Indian reserves.” on the Kisan movement where people prevent Letters have been edited
Martin was still Finance against the Farm Bills nuclear power from for clarity and length.
Minister when the Chrétien in India. I see these reducing greenhouse gases, Send your letters to monitor@
government had to reverse demonstrations as direct air pollution, and water policyalternatives.ca.
course, a bit, when those opposition to the IMF degradation in the present,
1990s decisions made policies favoring factory because they are afraid of a
homelessness—a growing farms which benefit the fictional hazard in the form
problem since the early extremely wealthy at the of plutonium causing harm
1980s—even worse. expense of everyone else. thousands of years from
There was some money There are many concerned now.
for homelessness in late Canadians in the Indo-Ca- The second error
1999. Then, in 2001, there nadian diaspora. concerns cost. Nuclear
3
in the Atlantic provinces. McCracken rightly points private sector property
The new report, released out that “Manitoba gets $1 developers as the primary
at the start of April, reveals billion more in equalization builders of housing is not
that the annual cost ranges payments than it did in working. Check out Lee’s
from $2 billion in Nova 2016 and our per capita new report for a prom-
Scotia to $273 million in allocation is $3,477, well ising, scalable alternative
Prince Edward Island. It above the national average housing plan.
costs close to $959 million of $2,181.” She also notes
New from in Newfoundland and that recent research The life and death
of NAFTA’s Chapter 11
the CCPA Labrador and $1.4 billion in
New Brunswick.
from David Macdonald
revealed that the federal
The report authors, government had, thus In his final report as the
CCPA-NS Director far, been responsible for Director of the CCPA’s
Mapping Ontario’s Christine Saulner and footing 89% of the bill Trade and Investment
pandemic school Houston Family Research for COVID-19 spending in Research Project, Scott
funding Fellow Charles Plante, Manitoba. Thus, Manitoba Sinclair provides an analy-
argue that the funds has the fiscal room to fund sis of the North American
Ontario Education Minister currently spent on these a robust and inclusive Free Trade Agreement’s
Stephen Lecce can’t stop costs could be reallocated recovery plan that benefits Chapter 11 and how it has
talking about millions and to affordable housing, food all of its citizenry. informed subsequent trade
millions of dollars in COVID security, and programs to agreements’ investor-state
funding, thousands and address intergenerational Building affordable dispute settlement clauses.
thousands of additional trauma rather than being housing is possible Sinclair’s research reveals
teachers, and endless spent to keep people en- that Canada has incurred
measures to make schools trenched in poverty. “This The accepted narrative more than $113 million
safe and operational. So costing exercise shows about rental housing in in unrecoverable legal
CCPA-Ontario Senior that there is an economic Canada is that affordability costs (up to March 2020).
Researcher Ricardo Tranjan benefit to eliminating is a thing of the past. But Furthermore, Canadian
asked, what’s the true poverty, and an economic a new report from CCPA- governments have paid out
story about Ontario’s cost to having poverty in B.C.’s Marc Lee suggests more than $263 million in
schools funding during the our communities.” that we can achieve the damages and settlements
pandemic? goal of affordable housing. resulting from ISDS claims.
New analysis from Building a feminist Doing so requires us While the ISDS clause
Tranjan reveals that, COVID-19 recovery to, first, stop relying on was removed from the new
on average, Ontario’s for Manitoba private, for-profit housing Canada–United States–
72 boards added the to solve the crises in B.C. Mexico Agreement, Sinclair
equivalent of just 1.5 staff Following the release and Canada. Then we cautions that Canada
per school to deal with of Katherine Scott’s must expand the stocks remains vulnerable to ISDS
all of the pressures from national report, Work and of both non-market and lawsuits through the web
school closures, online COVID-19: Priorities for co-op housing and adopt of bilateral and regional
learning, preventive health supporting women and the public-led approaches and accords Canada has signed
measures, additional economy, CCPA-Manitoba non-profit development. onto, which do contain
mental health challenges, Director Molly McCracken Lee’s new report finds ISDS clauses. The report
and growing learning published an inclusive and that non-profit housing offers a step-by-step ap-
gaps. Readers can find an just feminist recovery plan builds could offer average proach for removing ISDS
interactive map with the for Manitoba. The policy break-even rents as low from all Canadian trade
board-by-board break- brief focuses on invest- as $1,273 per month for a agreements to remove this
downs on the Monitor ments in three areas: social one-bedroom and $1,641 vulnerability. M
website. infrastructure and the care for a two-bedroom. By
economy; living wages, contrast, Padmapper’s
Accounting for paid sick leave, EI and CPP March 2021 Rent Report
the cost of poverty reform; and help for those pegs current one-bedroom
in Atlantic Canada who were marginalized apartment prices at
prior to the pandemic. “record low prices” of
New research from On the question of how $1,900 in Vancouver
CCPA-Nova Scotia provides Manitoba could fund an and $1,750 in Toronto.
the total cost of poverty ambitious recovery plan, It is clear that relying on
4
Up front
Alex Hemingway / B.C. Office It should be accompanied by a
suite of other tax fairness policies,
Wealth tax would raise including ending the costly special
treatment of capital gains income in
far more money than the Canadian tax system and closing
a range of other tax loopholes that
previously thought benefit the affluent.
Updated wealth tax
revenue estimates: the details
W
HILE THE LIVES of millions of national accounts data and estimat- This analysis’ updated estimates of
working people have been ing tax avoidance and evasion based wealth tax revenue corrects for two
upended by the COVID-19 on the latest academic research. A limitations in the most recent and
pandemic, the wealth of 1% tax on wealth over $20 million in commonly cited wealth tax revenue
the richest few has contin- Canada would generate about $10 estimate from the Parliamentary
ued to balloon in Canada. A wealth billion in revenue in its first year, sub- Budget Office (PBO) in July 2020,
tax on the super rich is an important stantially more than the commonly while maintaining the core of the
policy needed to address extreme cited estimate of $5.6 billion. PBO’s methodology.
inequality and help raise revenue for With a $10 billion boost to annual First, the PBO’s July 2020 estimate
sustained, long-term increases in public revenue, Canada could lift of wealth tax revenues reflected a
public investment in key areas after hundreds of thousands of people large drop in asset values early in
the pandemic. out of poverty, implement long-term the pandemic (a factor that the PBO
Inequality has reached new increases to funding for important acknowledges in its publication).
heights in Canada in recent years. social programs like child care, Asset values have since rapidly
The richest 1% now control 25% health care and seniors’ care, and bounced back in Canada. In the
of Canada’s wealth, according to a help pay for more ambitious climate current estimates, I use the most
recent Parliamentary Budget Office action. recent Statistics Canada data to
(PBO) report. Research from the A moderately more ambitious update the PBO’s wealth data set.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alter- wealth tax could further reduce This is done using the methodology
natives shows that the 87 richest inequality and fund additional that the PBO provides in an earlier
families in the country each hold, on investments. For example, a wealth report for updating its wealth
average, 4,448 times more wealth tax with rates of 1% on net worth distribution data set.1
than the typical family. Together over $20 million, 2% over $50 million When the latest aggregate wealth
these 87 families hold more wealth and 3% over $100 million could raise data is used, this adds $800 million to
than the bottom 12 million Canadi- nearly $20 billion in its first year. the projected net revenue for a 1%
ans combined. Wealth taxes of these kinds, wealth tax, compared to the earlier
Inequality is linked to worse per- targeted to net worth over $20 PBO estimate of $5.6 billion.
formance on a wide range of health million, would apply to only about Second, and more significantly,
and social outcomes, as international 25,000 wealthy families, representing the PBO assumed that 35% of the
epidemiological research shows. the richest 0.2% of the country. wealth tax base would be wiped out
High levels of inequality also damage This tiny fraction of Canadians—the by “behavioural responses” such as
economic growth, as organizations richest of the rich—together control tax avoidance and evasion.2 However,
like the IMF and OECD have begun to $1.8 trillion of the country’s wealth. this estimated behavioural response
acknowledge in recent years. Notably, these wealth tax rates do rate is out of line with the latest
Tackling inequality with a wealth not even approach the much higher economic research on wealth taxes.
tax on the super rich is hugely rates called for by Bernie Sanders Surveying academic studies of
popular, backed by an overwhelming and Elizabeth Warren in the United European wealth taxes, University
majority of Canadians across party States. Their more aggressive plan of California, Berkeley economists
lines in the most recent polling. This would apply rates as high as 6% on Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman
approach is also supported by a wealth over $1 billion and 8% over estimate a substantially lower
growing body of economic research $10 billion. average behavioural response of 16%.
and analysis. A wealth tax is just one piece of Furthermore, they suggest that this
Our latest analysis provides a new the puzzle when it comes to tackling figure should be understood as an
estimate of the revenue potential inequality and raising revenue for “upper bound.” That is, behavioural
of a wealth tax using up-to-date important public investments. responses to these European wealth
5
taxes were higher than they needed revenues than the earlier PBO I also include estimated revenues
to be as a result of policy design flaws estimate. for a moderately more ambitious
that can be readily avoided. For a small 1% wealth tax, this wealth tax with additional brackets
The large-scale use of tax havens analysis uses the midpoint of the (1% over $20 million, 2% over $50
and other large-scale tax avoidance UK Wealth Tax Commission’s 7–17% million and 3% over $100 million),
and evasion is often assumed to be behavioural response range, applying using Saez and Zucman’s higher
inevitable, whether it relates to a a 12% reduction in the wealth tax 16% behavioural response to be
wealth tax or the existing tax system. base. This yields net revenues of more conservative in the estimate.
But, as leading experts like Saez and $10 billion in the first year of the This moderate wealth tax would
Zucman emphasize, we largely know tax. If we use behavioural response raise an estimated $19.4 billion in
how to crack down on this behaviour estimates across the full 7–17% net revenue in its first year (net
and how to design a wealth tax that range, revenues vary from a high of of administration costs), though
minimizes it. What’s been missing $10.8 billion to a low of $9.2 billion. this estimate has a higher level of
is the political will to challenge the The chart below shows the uncertainty.
interests of the wealthy and powerful estimates of the gross revenue, Following the PBO’s methodology,
who oppose these steps. administration costs and net revenue I have deducted 2% of gross revenue
Key measures include increasing for the 1% annual wealth tax, for administrative costs. In absolute
funding for enforcement efforts alongside the PBO’s older revenue terms, these estimates allow for
focused on the rich, steeper pen- estimate. administrative costs nearly double
alties for tax evasion, enforcement those earmarked by the PBO for
against financial services providers a small wealth tax ($204 million
that help organize and enable compared to $113 million), which
evasion, and imposing stronger double again for a moderate wealth
transparency and third-party tax. This approach adds a layer of
reporting requirements on financial 1% wealth tax conservatism to my net revenue
institutions doing business with July 2020 PBO estimate estimates and allows for substantially
Canada. Focusing a wealth tax on a Net Revenue more investment in enforcement.
narrow band of the richest 0.2% also $5.6 billion These administrative costs are a
facilitates a high rate of audits. The drop in the bucket compared to $10
growing body of economic research Administration costs billion or $20 billion in revenue.
on wealth taxes outlines the various $113 million
practicalities of enforcement in more Tackling the super rich
detail. and funding the public good
Notably, Saez and Zucman applied 1% wealth tax When it comes to taking on the
their 16% behavioral response New estimate super rich and expanding public
estimate to the much more aggres- services, a wealth tax is only one
sive wealth tax proposals of Bernie Net Revenue piece of the puzzle. In the area of
Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, which $10 billion tax policy, a range of additional
use higher tax rates than have so measures is needed.
far been proposed in Canada. We First, Canada needs to end the
would expect a smaller behavioural Administration costs preferential treatment of income
response to a well-enforced wealth $204 million from wealth (i.e., capital gains from
tax at the low 1% rate proposed by stocks, real estate, etc.) compared to
the federal NDP. income from work. Currently, capital
An extensive new body of research gains are taxed at half the rate of
produced by the UK Wealth Tax Moderate wealth tax income from work, costing billions
Commission, based out of the
1%, 2% and 3% brackets3 of dollars in lost public revenue.
London School of Economics, Ninety-two per cent of the benefits
reinforces this view. For a 1% annual Net Revenue from this policy flow to the top 10%
wealth tax in the United Kingdom, $19.4 billion of income earners. Recent estimates
the commission’s review of the from University of Toronto economist
evidence suggests a 7–17% behav- Michael Smart suggest that closing
ioural response rate. this loophole could raise nearly $16
Using behavioural responses Administration costs billion in annual revenue to federal
that are in line with the scholarly $395 million and provincial governments.
economic research on wealth taxes Canada should also end a prolifer-
yields substantially larger projected ation of other tax expenditures that
64,862,300 226,000 $2,000–$3,000
The total number of The approximate The “resignation bonus”
workers in Canada with number of private rental that Amazon offered
union coverage, according apartments in Berlin workers at its warehouse in
to Statistics Canada’s that affordable housing Alabama in February 2021,
January 2021 Labour Force activists are trying to during their seven-week
Survey. That’s 31.8% of the turn into public housing. union election period.
overall workforce. The campaign is using a Workers had to have been
Index 17.7
clause in Germany’s 1949
constitution to try to force
with the company for two
peak seasons or longer
Numbers for Organizers
The percentage of workers a city-wide referendum to accept the offer. The
aged 15 to 24 across on expropriating the resignation bonus resem-
COMPILED BY Canada who have union property of all landlords bles Amazon’s “The Offer”
KEVIN PHILIPUPILLAI coverage, as of January that own more than 3,000 program, where workers
2021. 24.8% of workers homes. The city would are offered up to $5,000 to
37.5 65 and over are part of a have to raise the money to quit and never return.
The percentage of migrant union, which means that buy the properties from
care workers, mostly the youngest and oldest these private landlords, $16.5 million
women of colour, who workers are the least likely the largest of which owns The amount that Toronto
reported that they were to be part of a union. approximately 110,000 Police agreed to pay to
not allowed to leave their rental homes. settle a class action lawsuit
employer’s home during 4.69 to 1 brought by people who
the pandemic, according The ratio of non-union job 48 were arrested or detained
to a report released in losses to union job losses The number of accounts during the G20 summit in
October 2020 by the across Canada between that U.S. technology Toronto in June 2010. The
Migrant Workers Alliance February 2020 and April company Clearview AI police surrounded and
for Change. 40% of the 2020. Unionized workers in created for Canadian law detained approximately
respondents also reported every province were more enforcement agencies, 1,100 protesters and
that they were not paid likely to keep their job than according to a joint bystanders and held them
for the additional hours non-unionized workers. investigation by the in a temporary detention
of work that employers privacy commissioners centre. Each member
expected of them during 551 of Canada, Quebec, B.C., of the class is entitled
the pandemic. The report The number of Instagram and Alberta. Clearview AI to between $5,000 and
estimates an average of followers that workers maintains a database of $24,700. The police also
$226 in unpaid wages at an Indigo store in more than three billion agreed to acknowledge
per worker per week, or Mississauga, ON gathered images scraped from the wrongdoing and expunge
$6,552 over the first six as part of their successful internet. Canadian law arrest records.1
months of the pandemic. union drive. The workers enforcement agencies
started posting to Insta- performed thousands of
7 gram in September 2020 searches before Clearview
The number of languages to counter disinformation AI voluntarily withdrew
served by the Workers about unions. Workers from Canada in July 2020,
Action Centre, an organi- at other Indigo stores saying that it was prepared
zation in Toronto serving took note, and there have to stay away for two years.
workers in low-wage or un- since been successful
stable jobs. WAC staff run union drives at stores in
a telephone hotline and Montreal, Coquitlam, B.C.
provide online resources and Woodbridge, ON.
in Bengali, Cantonese,
English, Punjabi, Somali,
Spanish, and Tamil.
Statistics Canada (2021). Table 14-10-0069-01 Union coverage by industry, monthly, unadjusted for seasonality; The Caregivers’ Action Centre (2020). “Behind Closed Doors—Exposing Migrant Care Worker Exploitation During
COVID-19”; Workers’ Action Centre; Nathaniel Flakin (2020). “Red Flag: The people vs Deutsche Wohnen”, The ExBerliner; CBC News (2021). “U.S. technology company Clearview AI violated Canadian privacy law: report”;
Brett Nelson (2021). “The story of the union drives sweeping Indigo stores”, Briarpatch; Alana Semuels (2018). “Why Amazon Pays Some of Its Workers to Quit”, The Atlantic; Eric K. Gillespie Professional Corporation (2020).
“Settlement reached in 2010 G20 Summit class action between Toronto Police and 1,100 mass arrested demonstrators”, Cision; Superior Court of Justice Ontario (2020). Court Files No: CV-10-408131CP, CV-15-524523CP
Note 1. Settlement Reached In 2010 G20 Summit Class Action Between Toronto Police And 1,100 Mass Arrested Demonstrators. CITATION: Good v. Toronto Police Services Board, 2020 ONSC 6332 COURT FILES NO.: CV-10-
408131CP CV-15-524523CP DATE: 20201022 SU
7disproportionately benefit the afflu- Gavin Fridell / Trade and Investment Research Project
ent, reform corporate taxation based
on innovative models, implement an
inheritance tax on estates over $5
Canada and
million, and substantially raise the
top marginal income tax rate.
the COVID-19 waiver
But a wealth tax can play a unique
role by honing in on the richest of
An unethical position that needs to change
the rich. While a broader group,
like the top 10% of income earners,
O
can afford to pitch in more to help VER THE PAST few months, a bit contradictory. At the same time
increase public investments, they will Canada and a group of mostly as the government is claiming to be
be more willing to do so if the wealthi- wealthy nations blocking the a leader in global efforts to produce
est 0.2% are paying their fair share. proposed World Trade Or- and deliver affordable vaccines and
Of course, the tax system itself ganization (WTO) COVID-19 treatments, it is blocking a major
is only part of the solution. A whole waiver put forward by South initiative led by Southern countries
range of other actions are necessary Africa and India have come under to scale up manufacturing and
to take on extreme wealth and increasing pressure to change their distribution of those same vaccines
equalize economic power in Canada, position. The waiver now has the and treatments.
including the strengthening workers’ support of over 100 mostly low- and Looked at another way, however,
rights and new models of public, middle-income nations, the WHO, there is great consistency in Canada’s
employee and community ownership. several UN agencies, and a growing approach.
Taxing the super rich enjoys global solidarity movement that has While the Canadian government
overwhelming public support among organized public events, civil society certainly wants vaccines and
Canadians across party lines. So why letters, and petitions signed by treatments rolled out as quickly as
is a wealth tax not front-and-centre hundreds of thousands of people. possible, its definition of what is
in our politics? Governments do pay In Canada, on March 10, 2021, a possible is tightly constrained. The
attention to public opinion, but when coalition of over 40 organizations, number one constraint, and Canada’s
the interests of the wealthy few including Amnesty International, clear priority at the WTO, is the
are at stake, the will of the majority Unifor, the United Church and defence of intellectual property (IP)
often doesn’t translate into substan- the CCPA, wrote a forceful open rights.
tive policy change. letter in support of the waiver to There are many complex reasons
The economic and political Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This why Canada is such an adamant
power of the super rich is real. But movement has put the Trudeau defender of IP rights. Direct lobbying
there has always been an answer to government in a difficult bind. On by large pharmaceutical firms is
organized money: organized people. the one hand, Trudeau and several no doubt one major consideration.
Building on a deep well of public ministers have echoed the call that According to the Government of
support and backed by a growing “No one is safe until everyone is Canada’s Registry of Lobbyists, over
body of research, a wealth tax can safe.” Canada has contributed $940 the past 12 months, the pharma-
be won if Canadians get organized to million to the ACT-Accelerator, ceutical lobbying group, Innovative
demand it. M a global collaboration aimed at Medicines Canada, has met with
Acknowledgements developing and distributing government officials 44 times. These
Thanks to Gabriel Zucman, Rob Gillezeau affordable COVID-19 vaccines and meetings covered a range of topics,
and Rhys Kesselman for comments on earlier treatments. On the other hand, while including explicitly IP rights at the
drafts of this analysis.
claiming it does not outright reject WTO.
Notes the waiver, Canada has also refused Beyond this, it is likely the
1. Specifically, I use the latest Statistics
Canada population data and the National to support it. Instead, it has held firm case that many Liberal politicians
Balance Sheet Accounts data (Q3 2020) to with a group of wealthy countries believe the arguments made by big
bring PBO’s High-net-worth Family Database blocking and delaying the waiver, pharma, and the corporate sector
(HFD) up to date. See page nine of PBO’s
June 2020 report for a full description of how dragging things on with requests for more broadly, that unbreakable
it describes updating its 2016 HFD data set information and clarifications, with IP protections are needed to spur
using these same population and NBSA data no end in sight. vaccine innovation. This position has
series from Statistics Canada.
2. In brief, it scales down the aggregate wealth been criticized on numerous fronts,
totals on its High-income Family Database by Canada’s position: including by those who have pointed
35% before applying the 1% tax. contradictory or consistent? out that tens of billions of dollars
3. Rates of 1% on net worth over $20 million,
2% over $50 million and 3% over $100 million. On the face of it, Canada’s position in public funding has played a key
on the COVID-19 waiver might seem role driving vaccine development,
8along with billions of dollars more vaccines, which will not be ready is that it seeks to replace urgent
in guaranteed, advanced contracts for many months. This has involved demands for reforms, such as those
from governments for the vaccines. tens of millions of dollars upgradingrepresented by the WTO waiver,
Critics, moreover, argue that facilities, including $126 million for
with paternalism and charity. The
existing IP protections have been a facility in Montreal in partnershipmoney comes with acceptance of the
blocking low- and middle-income with the private company, Novavax, status quo.
countries and their industries from and $173 million to produce vaccines In this case, the status quo
making better and quicker use of in Quebec with Medicago. means that millions in low- and
new knowledge around vaccines and These strategies are entirely middle-income countries will have to
treatment, ramping up the manu- consistent with Canada’s resistance wait much longer for vaccines than
facture and distribution of needed to the WTO waiver, as it avoids those in rich countries like Canada,
medicines and equipment. any changes to the existing vaccine and longer than the world would be
Wealthy countries have argued production system in favour of capable of if the existing IP barriers
that existing flexibilities within WTO doling out support and subsidies to were eliminated or reduced, rather
rules allow countries sufficient space private companies. than preserved and protected. By
to address the crisis through such Perhaps most significantly, this some estimates, the majority of
mechanisms as compulsory licensing. strategy is a common one in neolib- people in low-income nations may
South Africa, India, and their eral times, pursued by relatively rich
not have access to vaccines until
supporters. However, counter that countries that have the money to do 2024.
such mechanisms are too slow, exist so. Many low- and middle-income Canada’s charitable position,
only on a “product by product” or countries, however, are not in the moreover, falls short compared to
“country by country” basis, and do position to follow suit, and will the efforts of emerging powers like
not protect low- and middle-income find themselves increasingly falling China, India, and Russia. China, in
countries from the very real threat behind in vaccine manufacturing and particular, has massively ramped
of costly litigation with big pharma access, now and into the future. up its own vaccine production and
or Western governments down the pledged half a billion doses to more
road. The age-old strategy than 45 countries. This means that
Canada, for its part, remains of aid and charity China is offering 10 times more
undeterred and firmly committed to Confronted with the injustices of vaccines abroad than it has distribut-
defending IP rights at all costs. the global vaccine rollout, Canada ed at home.
has drawn upon the age-old strategy While some have raised concerns
Canada: a world leader of aid and charity. In particular, that Chinese companies have not
in “vaccine nationalism” Canada has sought to position itself been fully transparent on the trials
Despite its faith in the global as a leader in the COVAX initiative, of their vaccines, they have been
pharmaceutical industry at the a global vaccine alliance aimed embraced internationally in a context
WTO, the Canadian government is at providing equitable access to where rich countries have been
anxious about the relatively sluggish vaccines for low- and middle-income buying up so much of the potential
rate of vaccine distribution at home. countries. supply. As a result, Huizhong Wu
Here, its primary approach has been Canada has pledged $220 million and Kristen Gelineau from the
spending on two main fronts. to COVAX to purchase vaccines for Associated Press suggest that, “a
First, Canada has pledged over other countries, combined with $220 large part of the world’s population
$1 billion in advanced purchases for million for vaccines for Canadians. will end up inoculated not with the
vaccines, all of which are produced While Canada’s involvement has fancy Western vaccines boasting
elsewhere. In doing so, Canada has been welcomed, its reputation has headline-grabbing efficacy rates, but
emerged as a member of a small been tarnished by the decision to with China’s humble, traditionally
group of countries that represent draw 1.9 million doses for Canadians made shots.”
around 13% of the world’s popula- in the first round of availability. As a growing chorus of nations,
tion but have bought up over 50% of While technically this is within movements, and international
the world’s promised vaccines. Canada’s rights, COVAX was organizations call out the unethical
Even within this elite group, designed first and foremost to hypocrisy of Western nations,
Canada is a leader, having bought assist low- and middle-income valuing IP rights over human lives,
more vaccines per capita than any countries and not necessarily, in the time has come for Canada to
other country, enough to eventually the first round, Canada, a wealthy change its position at the WTO. The
vaccinate 4 or 5 times the Canadian country and world leader in “vaccine global appeal that “no one is safe
population. nationalism.” until everyone is safe,” is not just a
Second, Canada has also begun to Either way, what is perhaps most slogan, but a call to action. M
spend money on “made in Canada” notable about the COVAX strategy
9hangs in the balance), Mexican health labels on packaged
Trade and food, Canadian plans to regulate single-use plastics,
and Mexico’s proposed phaseout of GM corn and the
investment herbicide glyphosate.
As anyone with a bit of common sense will tell you,
STUART TREW chewing that much gum can be dangerous, walking
or no walking. And Tai should recall how badly her
predecessors blew this particular game of chess with
the corporate class. Obama, no slouch in the walking
Enforcing the new and chewing gum department, attempted to trade
government-wide business-friendly regulation and an
NAFTA, but for Asia-Pacific FTA (the TPP) for corporate investment in
new economic growth. Business held onto its cash, while
workers or the bosses? Obama’s regulatory reforms laid the foundation for
significant deregulation under the Trump administration.
Back to CUSMA enforcement, it was expected the first
dispute under the new NAFTA’s strengthened labour
T
HERE’S A NEW trade sheriff in Washington and she protections would be against Mexico. But on March
plans to “walk, chew gum and play chess at the 23, the Centro de los Derechos del Migrante claimed
same time.” Katherine Tai laid down her challenge that milestone by filing a challenge that accuses U.S.
on February 25, in opening remarks to the Senate employers of regular sex-based discrimination under two
Finance Committee, then considering her nomina- migrant visa programs. According to the centre:
tion for the job of United States Trade Representative.
Through discriminatory recruitment and hiring practices,
Both Democrats and Republicans expect top-notch gum
women are largely excluded from accessing these visas.
chewing from their USTR, but the chess-playing really
For example, in 2018 3% of all H-2A visas were issued to
impressed. The senate confirmed Tai’s nomination with a
women, while women made up approximately 25% of
vote of 98–0 on March 17.
all farm laborers in the United States. Migrant worker
The question now is where Biden’s new USTR plans
women who are hired on H-2 visas are often channeled
to walk, at what pace, and whether she is a spearmint or
into lower-paying jobs under the programs and face
peppermint kind of person. During a public webinar in
gender-based violence.
December, Senator Rob Portman, one of Tai’s predeces-
sors as USTR, said he would hope that the Biden trade Mexico’s labour ministry must agree to investigate the
team could conclude Trump-era free trade deals with the complaint, which will “test the new, stronger language
U.K. and Kenya while still pursuing reforms to U.S. trade on migrant workers…and on discrimination against
policy promised during the election. No reason why women,” said Lance Compa of Cornell University, a panel
Biden “can’t walk and chew gum at the same time,” said member on the CUSMA Rapid Response Mechanism for
Portman. Indeed. labour complaints. So, ¿Pueden caminar y mascar chicle
However, the U.K. and Kenya bilaterals do not seem al mismo tiempo? In other words, will the Mexican gov-
to be Tai’s immediate concern, nor does jumping back ernment of Andrés Manuel López Obrador be so bold as
into the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiated by Obama to challenge the Biden-Harris regime on migrant rights
then ditched by Trump. Since her senate hearing, Tai has while it is also testing corporate America’s patience with
clarified to congress, her staff, the media and several energy re-nationalization and domestic farm supports?
foreign governments that her immediate priorities will The CCPA’s Trade and Investment Research Project
be 1) holding China to its commitments under a “phase (TIRP), a network of academic, labour and NGO
one” trade deal struck at the beginning of last year by researchers, will be chewing on all of this. In a recent
the Trump administration, and 2) solving a 16-year video call, TIRP members were especially interested in
aerospace subsidy dispute with Europe, and 3) enforcing Tai’s plans to review past U.S. trade agreements for their
Canadian and Mexican commitments under CUSMA (the impacts on workers (intended or unintended), women,
new NAFTA). incomes, the environment, and communities of colour,
The tough-but-constructive approach to China is and to develop a climate- and worker-focused trade
exactly what the powerful U.S. Chamber of Commerce policy.
called for last November, claiming the U.S. “can walk The Obama administration promised the same and
and chew gum at the same time, which is why we also disappointed. But these are different and probably
support efforts to keep pressure on trade practices more urgent times for a Democratic establishment
that are harmful and unfair.” Outside of China, those that appears, so far, ready to do something to level the
allegedly harmful practices include Canada’s allocation playing field between bosses and workers—even in the
of new dairy imports (a Trump-initiated CUSMA dispute chewed, flavourless realm of trade policy. M
10Perspectives
JENNIFER CHEN
Trust and relationships
in community organizing
W
HEN WE TALK about en- up conversations in the halls, and care workers during COVID-19.
gaging and empowering students were easy to find. We could All of this has been developed to
under-represented popu- take one issue, like rising tuition build relationships and trust with
lations with the purpose fees, and mobilize our community the community. The community we
of increasing awareness of around it. work with is traditionally averse to
the issues that affect their lives, or However, after graduation when political engagement for a range of
increasing their influence in policies I ventured out into the community reasons. Now that we have shown
and decision making, community and tried to mobilize, I found there up for the community, when we
organizing is fundamental. Tra- were no shortcuts, no “lobby kits”, organize webinars and rallies on
ditional “western” approaches and not even a “community of education reform and anti-racism,
to organizing, which often begin interest” the way there had been there is greater interest and turnout
with issues and then action (think at university. The stakes were from the community, and people are
election organizing), or begin with completely different and trust had not shy to express opinions because
organizers—often external to the to be earned. they trust the organizers. Organizers
community (think international Some people may have a roman- who don’t see the value in a cooking
development approaches)—may ticized vision of what community night, or a walking club, will fail to
not work with diverse communities. organizing is, where they can jump truly mobilize their community.
When we organize within ethnocul- in with their passion and make When we do community organiz-
tural communities, we need to use meaningful change within a couple ing with ethnocultural communities,
a different approach. Sometimes, weeks. But true organizing isn’t we also shouldn’t assume that
indeed most times, organizers just a project. It’s people’s lives. It’s relationship building is done by an
external to the community may do long-term. It’s a relationship. organizer, or organization alone.
more harm than good, no matter Why do trust and relationships Communities have multiple layers
how well-intentioned. matter in community organizing? of involvement, from individual
Organizing within diverse When jumping into issues too families to faith-based groups to
communities takes time, trust, and a soon, it turns people off. For many informal women’s circles. All of
lot of patience and flexibility. ethnocultural communities, there these networks exist before and
In newcomer communities, may already be trauma and mistrust after the organizer is gone. So, when
where I organize, people talk about directed to anyone who attempts to organizing, you should always ask
current issues but understand the introduce issues to the community yourself, “will I stick around too”?
system differently, with different or group. You can’t assume the The answer to that will determine
interpretations and expectations. community will see things the way your success as an organizer, and
Organizers need to first build you see them. In organizing, trust the value of the impact you hope to
relationships and trust with com- is more valuable than a PhD. It’s achieve.
munity members, and listen to how important to know that conversa- Community organizers play an
they understand the issue. tions about issues will happen in important role in the fight for social
I became involved in organizing time, and until that time comes, you justice, racial justice, and gender
while at university as an interna- have to continue putting in work on equality. The connections organiz-
tional student from China. I joined the community’s timeline, not your ers can make between critical issues
my student union, where I learned own. and peoples’ daily lives is crucial to
campaign strategies and how to Over the past few years, a helping build capacity as a com-
lobby effectively. The student union women’s organization I’m working munity. But it takes a lot of work,
had the resources and capacity to with has been organizing family and shouldn’t be seen as a project
make change, and I was impressed activities, hosting programs or something you can list on your
at how the movement could including a walking club and new curriculum vitae. If you want to be
fight. Gaining the trust of fellow skills for newcomers, and more a community organizer, you have to
students was a matter of striking recently delivering meals to health be in it for the long haul. M
11You can also read
