Recent news | Unions Yeah!

NUPGE backs call for a 21% global minimum corporate tax rate

Ottawa (09 June 2021) — In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the National Union of Public and General Employees backed the call for a global minimum corporate tax rate of at least 21%. The proposal for a global minimum corporate tax rate is being discussed at the Group of Seven government leaders’ summit in Britain later this week.

Global minimum corporate tax rate would help reduce tax dodging

A global minimum tax is intended to make it hard for multinational corporations using tax havens and other tax dodging schemes to avoid paying their share.

Large corporations fighting to keep Canadians paying too much for medication

Ottawa (27 May 2021) — A universal public pharmacare program will help to ensure all Canadians are able to get the prescription drugs they need and will save the health care system money. So why is it taking so long to introduce?

The answer is that, while the overwhelming majority of Canadians would benefit from universal public pharmacare, some large corporations would see profits drop. Those corporations, whose owners include some of the wealthiest families in the world, are lobbying hard against universal public pharmacare.

Investigation of shell companies and tax havens to be restarted

Ottawa (30 April 2021) — This week the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) agreed to a motion from NDP Finance Critic Peter Julian to do a follow-up study of how shell companies in tax havens are used for tax avoidance and to avoid legal proceedings. This effectively restarts a 2016 inquiry by FINA into shell companies in tax havens.

NUPGE calls on CPPIB to reject investment in water privatization

Ottawa (20 April 2021) — The National Union of Public and General Employees has called on Canada Pension Plan Investments Board (CPPIB) to reject a plan to invest in the privatization of water and sanitation sewer services in Brazil.

Canada lagging on Panama Papers investigations

Ottawa (08 April 2021) — This week the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported that more than $1.36 billion in taxes and penalties has been recovered by different countries as a result of the Panama Papers leak.

Canada needs tax justice to fulfill women’s rights, address gender inequality

Ottawa (15 March 2021) — Canadians for Tax Fairness has joined with tax justice groups around the world to call for progressive tax reforms to tackle gender inequalities.

President's Commentary: Unions rise to challenge of pandemic

"We will continue to advocate for our members, but also ensure that the recovery benefits everyone. Our future can be inclusive and fair, with the importance of public services more recognized than ever, where we take better care of our children and our seniors and everyone in between, and where we can reduce income and social inequality. We can build a healthier and safer country for everyone. In fact, it's not only that we can — we must." — Larry Brown, NUPGE President

Fair Tax Recovery Plan could raise over $70B in annual revenues

Ottawa (25 Feb. 2021) — Last week, Canadians for Tax Fairness released a Fair Tax Recovery Plan demonstrating how the federal government could raise more than $70 billion in annual revenues by introducing progressive tax reforms in coming budgets.

Report links for-profit long-term care facility company to tax dodging

Ottawa (28 Jan. 2021) — A new report has found that Revera Living, the second largest for-profit long-term care and retirement facility company in Canada, appears to be using a web of subsidiaries in tax havens to reduce the corporate income taxes that its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom pay. The report, Tax Dodging by a Canadian Crown Corporation: Revera Living Making a Killing, was produced by the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR).

New report shows income inequality in Canada still a serious problem

While many workers were laid off and had to rely on income support of $500/week during the pandemic, the stock market boom means half of CEOs will likely see an increase in their compensation for 2020.