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While income inequality has begun to receive the attention it deserves, CMIS is determined to start a serious debate on the economic development strategy for this country.
Ottawa (16 May 2012) - Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy (CMIS) announced it will be bringing together people from labour, business, government and the community who believe Canada's economic success and social well-being depend on a proactive industrial strategy.
As the loss of manufacturing jobs and growing trade deficit have demonstrated, the hands-off approach of the federal government and too many provincial governments has failed. It is time to learn from places that have succeeded in creating good, well-paying jobs, instead of just handing out tax cuts to corporations and hoping for the best.
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| James Clancy, National President, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) on McJobs and an modern industrial strategy |
A modern industrial strategy must be based on the principles that:
- governments play an essential co-ordinating and enabling role to play in the economy;
- there is a true partnership involving government, labour, business, community, academic institutions and other stakeholders;
- inequality is reduced by creating good jobs and putting people and nature at the heart of the economy;
- the focus is on the tools different sectors need to be a vibrant part of a modern economy, instead of getting bogged down in a sterile debate between “high tech” and “smokestack” industries; and
- long-term needs are put ahead of short-term considerations.
As well as advocacy, CMIS will address the need for more information on the issues by providing research and analysis of public policy issues and create a forum for broader discussion.
In its first publication, Canada Needs a Modern Industrial Strategy, CMIS exposes how government choices have created the increasing economic inequality Canada is now facing. One of these choices has been to abandon the tradition of a proactive industrial strategy. While income inequality has begun to receive the attention it deserves, CMIS is determined to start a serious debate on the economic development strategy for this country.
More information:
Canadians for a Modern Industrial Strategy - http://www.industrialstrategy.ca/
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE