Centre for Social Justice -» Community

May 1, 2024 - Toronto Labour Council Demands: End Arms Exports to Israel

By Toronto and York Region Labour Council

WHEREAS solidarity with workers everywhere is a crucial part of trade unionism, and the workers' struggle has no borders; and

WHEREAS every day the Toronto & York Region Labour Council, its affiliates and our members are seeing the horrifying bombing and mass killing of working people in Gaza with equipment made in Canada, supplied and facilitated by means of export permits issued by the Canadian government - the same Canadian government that carries out strike breaking against workers here in Canada; and

WHEREAS more than 32,000 Palestinians - including more than 22,000 women and children - have been killed, with the death continuing to grow day by day;...

Source: The Bullet No. 2982

Apr 30, 2024 - AI Chatbots: Hype Meets Reality

By Marty Hart-Landsberg

Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere. Companies use powerful AI chatbots on their webpages or phone systems to handle customer questions. Newsrooms and magazines use them to write stories. Film studios use them to produce films. Tech companies use them to program. Students use them to write papers. It seems like magic. And with everything supposedly happening "in the cloud," it is easy to believe that AI-powered systems are good for the environment. Unfortunately, things are not as they appear to be.

Source: The Bullet No. 2981

Apr 29, 2024 - The Budget and the Canadian Housing Market

By Judy Haiven

Chrystia Freeland put on her best smile to introduce two new bonbons she hopes will sweeten the lives of Canada's first-time home buyers. On 11 April, Canada's deputy prime minister and minister of finance, announced that first time buyers could withdraw up to $60,000 (up from $35,000) from their RRSP savings accounts to put toward a down payment for a house. This can be combined with savings up to $40,000 in a home buyer's Tax Free First Home Savings Account. Of course the real question is how many younger people have any substantial savings for a down payment which is typically 20% of the price of a home?

Source: The Bullet No. 2980

Apr 28, 2024 - From World War II to Gaza: U.S. Labour Opposition to War and Fascism

By Kurt Stand

At a labor press conference/rally on December 14 in front of the White House, Brandon Mancilla - child of Guatemalan immigrants and director of United Auto Workers (UAW) District 9 - announced the union's call for a cease-fire in Gaza noting: "We opposed fascism in World War II, we opposed the Vietnam War, we opposed apartheid South Africa and we mobilized union resources in that fight." This was amplified in a subsequent UAW statement that added opposing the Contra War to the precedents behind the union's demand for a ceasefire.

Source: The Bullet No. 2979

Apr 27, 2024 - Medical Care in Ontario’s Private Clinics

By Ontario Health Coalition

A new report "Illegal, Unlawful and Unethical: Case Studies of Patients Charged for Medical Care in Ontario's Private Clinics," featured evidence from more than a hundred patients about user fees being charged in Ontario's private clinics. The Health Coalition held press conferences to release the report with patients who have been charged hundreds or even thousands of dollars for access to care in for-profit clinics. Most of the patients are seniors on fixed incomes who were charged up to $8,000 or more for eye surgeries and tests, reported the Health Coalition. The fees impose significant financial strain, forcing one patient to go back to work at the age of 71 to pay the bill, and others to fall into debt, use up all their savings, borrow money or go without other needs.

Source: The Bullet No. 2978