Iglika Ivanova

Could This One Change Give Vulnerable BC Workers More Power? | The Tyee Sectoral bargaining could level the playing field for today’s employees.

Sectoral bargaining could be a game-changer for BC's most vulnerable workers. @verosioufi.bsky.social explains in @thetyee why labour laws designed for 20th century workplaces leave cleaners, care workers, and gig workers behind. @bcpolicy.bsky.social
thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

Check out this must-read piece from @thetyee.ca's @isaacphannay.bsky.social. It's about an approach that can remove many of the obstacles standing between some of BC's most vulnerable workers and their right to join a union: sectoral bargaining. 🧵

#BCLab

"I hope you understand this is a movement, an achievement of a whole society"
Please listen to the words she finally finds
for winning the Nobel Prize for her part in the struggle to find a "just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy"
We can only do this together, everywhere.

Inspections of temporary foreign worker employers in Canada have plummeted — despite a surge of workers Critics say the decline in investigations, and the fact that most are conducted remotely, is raising concerns about protecting vulnerable labourers.

This is such great journalistic digging.
Well done, @thestar.com and @ghadaa.bsky.social

www.thestar.com/news/gta/ins...

Could This One Change Give Vulnerable BC Workers More Power? | The Tyee Sectoral bargaining could level the playing field for today’s employees.

Yes, sectoral bargaining can give vulnerable workers better working conditions. The BC government should prioritize it. As a bare minimum, BC must create councils to review the working standards & conditions for domestic, agricultural, food delivery & ride-hail workers. thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...

Programs on the chopping block as B.C. charities face funding crisis Many who work in B.C.’s non-profit industry say they’re grappling with a decline in donations paired with a growing demand for their services – forcing them to make challenging financial decisions.

The affordability crisis during a weakening economy is placing even more pressure on the nonprofit sector says senior economist @iglikaivanova.bsky.social.

"When things are very uncertain, donations are even less than they used to be,” she says.

Programs on the chopping block as B.C. charities face funding crisis Many who work in B.C.’s non-profit industry say they’re grappling with a decline in donations paired with a growing demand for their services – forcing them to make challenging financial decisions.

In 2 decades experience, @iglikaivanova.bsky.social has never seen the nonprofit sector in such crisis.

“There've been downturns and the financial crisis, but I feel like what’s happening to the nonprofit sector now is different. People who used to donate are now clients.”

🎬 The Housing Crisis Is Solvable Key Policies + Local Lessons [Webinar recording] Alex Hemingway ( senior economist, BC Policy Solutions) and Sarah Ellis (Executive Director, Squamish Community Housing Society and former city planner) discuss BC’s housing crisis and what is needed to make real progress to tackle this critical issue that has been overwhelming B

Couldn't make it to this webinar this past Wednesday?

Here’s the video recording! Senior economist Alex Hemingway and Housing Squamish E.D. Sarah Ellis walk us through key policies and local lessons to solve the housing crisis in BC.

Budget 2025 should bolster employee ownership to strengthen Canada’s economy Budget 2025 offers Canada a chance to make employee ownership permanent by extending tax incentives for employee ownership trusts and worker co-ops. Doing so would boost productivity, reduce inequality, and secure business succession, while keeping jobs and decision-making local. A modest investment promises significant economic and social dividends.

Firms that convert to employee ownership tend to be more resilient in economic downturns with lower incidence of layoffs and closures say Simon Pek, Lorin Bussan and @1alexhemingway.bsky.social.

Read how the upcoming federal budget can advance such ownership.

It is with deep admiration & heartfelt remembrance that we announce the establishment of the Pamela Horton Trailblazer Fund, created to honour the life, leadership, & legacy of our longstanding board member, Pam, who passed away on May 13, 2025.

Learn more: disabilityalliancebc.org/the-pamela-h...

The truth behind BC's deficit and debt Article by Iglika Ivanova, co-executive director, senior economist &public interest researcher, BC Policy Solutions BC has a revenue problem, not a spending problem. In recent days we’ve heard much about how the provincial government has gone from surpluses to a projected $11.6 billion def

Deep tax cuts to personal & corporate taxes in the early 2000s were never fully reversed eroding BC’s fiscal capacity even as the economy grew says senior economist @iglikaivanova.bsky.social explaining BC’s current economic woes.

The solution isn’t spending cuts she says.

Daycare in Denmark is a basic right. Could Canada offer the same? childcarecanada.org/documents/ch...

Budget 2025 should bolster employee ownership to strengthen Canada’s economy Budget 2025 offers Canada a chance to make employee ownership permanent by extending tax incentives for employee ownership trusts and worker co-ops. Doing so would boost productivity, reduce inequality, and secure business succession, while keeping jobs and decision-making local. A modest investment promises significant economic and social dividends.

If we're to create a new Canadian economy as called for by Prime Minister Carney, employees deserve more than inspiration—they deserve a greater ownership stake and voice in the companies where they work say Simon Pek, Lorin Bussan and @1alexhemingway.bsky.social.

That 40-cent wage hike isn't the biggest threat to Toronto's smallest businesses. Here's what is Commercial rents have skyrocketed and local entrepreneurs often have to negotiate with multibillion-dollar companies, a business group says. Guess how that's turned out.

What could it be? I think I know.

www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

Looking forward to this webinar on housing later today. Tune in to find out what key policy reforms will move the dial on hosing and if recent policy announcements are hitting the mark.

12 noon PT zoom.us/webinar/regi...

@1alexhemingway.bsky.social @bcpolicy.bsky.social

Getting off US tech: a guide I’m in the process of dropping US tech services. Here’s how I did it, and options you should consider.

Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump was a mask off moment and showed the world we can’t depend on US tech companies.

For the past few months, I’ve been trying to get off US tech and I put together a guide so you find alternatives too. I hope you find it helpful!

What’s needed to tackle the housing crisis?

A webinar with senior economist @1alexhemingway.bsky.social and Sarah Ellis, Squamish Community Housing Society, for housing policy analysis and a practitioner's perspective on creating non-profit housing.

Oct 1, 12 pm PT
bcpolicy.ca/events

Opinion: B.C. has a revenue problem, not a spending problem Experience from early 2000s shows that underfunding public services and failing to address poverty leads to higher economic and social costs

BC folks! Outstanding piece here by @iglikaivanova.bsky.social, co-ED of @bcpolicy.bsky.social.

BC has a revenue problem, not a spending problem

The solution to BC’s fiscal challenges isn’t spending cuts. Instead, BC needs progressive revenue measures.

Read on 👇
vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

Opinion: B.C. has a revenue problem, not a spending problem Experience from early 2000s shows that underfunding public services and failing to address poverty leads to higher economic and social costs

Everyone's talking about BC's "spending problem" but here's what they're not telling you: we're spending the SAME share of GDP as 1998, but collecting far less revenue. BC's deficit isn't about overspending. My analysis: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

#bcpoli

Opinion: B.C. has a revenue problem, not a spending problem Experience from early 2000s shows that underfunding public services and failing to address poverty leads to higher economic and social costs

Everyone's talking about BC's "spending problem" but here's what they're not telling you: we're spending the SAME share of GDP as 1998, but collecting far less revenue. BC's deficit isn't about overspending. My analysis: vancouversun.com/opinion/op-e...

#bcpoli

Breaking - Canadian federal government to rip up all highways because they are losing too much money.

Canada's mayors, councillors want fast-tracking of projects that fight climate change - CityNews Montreal More than 250 elected officials across Canada have signed onto a campaign calling on the federal government to prioritize major infrastructure projects that help in the fight against climate change. C...

Canada’s mayors, councillors want fast-tracking of projects that fight climate change.

montreal.citynews.ca/2025/09/24/o...

National Truth and Reconciliation Day is on September 30th But reflection alone is not enough. Here are some ways that we encourage you to consider showing your support and solidarity on Tuesday:

Great advice here from @350canada.bsky.social on how to mark National Truth and Reconciliation Day next Tuesday...
350.org/canada/trc-2...

The image shows a graffiti-covered wall in the background. Title text in white text on black highlight reads: "Yellowhead Resources to Prepare for National Day for Truth & Reconciliation." Subtitle reads: "How can we avoid symbolic performances of reconciliation and equip ourselves to work toward transformative change?" The Yellowhead logo is displayed. In the bottom right corner of the screen, three arrows are displayed that indicate to scroll. 

A red text box at the top reads: "Education Resources". Title text reads: "How Do You Like Your Reconciliation?" A venn diagram demonstrates 4 overlapping circles. The circles include 1. Symbolic: Centres "efforts" by Canadians. 2. Easy: Low-hanging fruit, quick wins. 3. Transformative: Centres Indigenous self-determination, 4. Impactful: Empowers Indigenous peoples.  Overlapping with Symbolic, easy, and impactful is: renaming Overlapping with symbolic and impactful is: contrition: accountability + apology.  Overlapping with Easy, impactful: funding, data transparency, sharing power.  Overlapping with easy, impactful, and transformative: non-existent.  Overlapping with impactful and transformative: justice for Indigenous peoples, land back.  Overlapping with easy and transformative: Settler fantasy.  Overlapping with symbolic and easy is: exploitative, performative "allyship", and inclusion.  A dotted line separates the diagram and text that reads: "As we approach National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, consider where the actions you’re taking or observing fall according to this diagram. Are they transformative, impactful, symbolic, easy or somewhere in-between?"

A yellow text box reads: "Map / Education Resource". Title text reads: "The Yellowhead Treaty Map" A star designed by Michelle Sound is displayed. Next to it, text reads: "Covering every treaty since 1763, the Treaty Map depicts three eras of Treaty Making in Canada, Pre-Confederation, Confederation, and "modern". Each treaty contains descriptions on the context, terms, negotiation, and implementation of the treaty." A yellow text box contains the URL: treatymap.yellowheadinstitute.org.  A dotted line separates text at the bottom that reads: "When you recite a land acknowledgement, are you actually engaging with what it means to occupy stolen land? Are you encouraging your audience to learn about how the territories you live on were dispossessed and remain contested?"

A red text box reads: "Online course." Title text reads: "Land Back Online."  A graphic of a desktop is displayed, which contains artwork by Julie Flett featured in the Land Back report and curriculum. Text reads: "This free open access online course examines the ways Canada dispossesses Indigenous people of the land - and the strategies communities are using to get it back." A red bubble contains the URL: learnonline.yellowheadinstitute.org. A dotted line separates text at the bottom that reads: "What does land back mean in the context of this moment in Canada? Land has always been at the centre of conflict between Indigenous people and Canadians. So, what could a just future look like?" The Yellowhead logo is displayed at the bottom of the image. 

September 30th is National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. As we approach this day, how can we avoid symbolic performances of reconciliation and equip ourselves to work toward transformative change? Check out these resources and more on our website: yellowheadinstitute.org. Linked in bio.

For public infrastructure and services, can we start talking about how to design them to do what we need, what they can enable, how they can save households and the private sector money and create a level playing field ... instead of treating them like businesses (which they are not!)

Why do economists care about inequality in incomes and wealth?

1) Inequality tends to dampen overall economic performance. One of most immediacy effects is on consumer spending. Low-and middle-income households spend a larger percentage of each dollar that they earn when more spending is in…

Highly recommend this webinar next week presented by @bcpolicy.bsky.social 👇

Ottawa directs Canada Post to end door-to-door delivery of mail across the country Directive includes shutting down post offices in areas that were considered rural, but are now suburban

www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

This is straight out of Harper's playbook in 2013.
He announced end door-to-door delivery (making Canada the only G7 country without door to door delivery) after strikes/lockouts/disputes with the union during negos from June 2011 to Dec 2012.
short 🧵

Thanks, Robin!

I'd love to see a comparable chart for Canada for retail grocery and other key sectors. Could you point me in the right direction @vassb.bsky.social @robin-shaban.bsky.social @kaylietiessen.bsky.social?