Labour
We suggest:
- When labour relations are more cooperative and less adversarial, it benefits employers, workers, and the economy as a whole.
- Citizens and consumers are best served when a wide diversity of organizations, including labour unions, compete and cooperate with one another in markets governed by the rule of law.
Supporting Research

Start Here
Brian Dijkema
December 19, 2013
This policy paper presents the case for a new framework of understanding labour relations in Canada. Taking insights which move debates about labour beyond the pendulum of pro-union and anti-union policies, it proposes a new policy within a new framework.

Sean Speer,
Sosina Bezu,
Renze Nauta
September 29, 2022
Canada’s New Working Class offers leaders a contemporary, modern understanding of the 6.5 million Canadians who are in the working class. One key finding is that members of Canada’s working class are as likely to be women or recent immigrants in sales or service jobs as they are to be men doing blue-collar, mostly unionized, manufacturing work. Canada's New Working Class busts stereotypes and outlines a true, inclusive working-class agenda.

Johanna Lewis,
N.T. Khuong Truong
September 15, 2022
We examine the nature and extent of the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians on various economic measures.
Explorations

Peter Menzies
August 14, 2019
Whether it’s air travel or Internet, the time-honoured Canuck reflex is to boldly pacify the masses with the security blanket of quasi-monopolies, contends Convivium contributor Peter Menzies.

Peter Stockland,
Brian Dijkema
July 27, 2018
Cardus’ director of Work and Economics made waves on Canada’s West Coast this month with a report critiquing the B.C. government’s move to let only unionized construction companies bid for major infrastructure projects. But, Brian Dijkema tells Convivum, the policy will cost taxpayers billions, punish workers, and risk damage to democracy itself.

Brian Dijkema
July 5, 2016
Cardus Work and Economics Program Director Brian Dijkema reflects on the opportunity that construction season provides us to celebrate the "vast array of talents and skills that it takes to keep a country and its economy functioning."
Media Coverage


March 6, 2023
"The troubles we’re seeing are only the latest symptoms of the [long-term care] staffing shortage, created by a nightmarish cocktail of mutually reinforcing problems that the think tank Cardus has outlined before," write Brian Dijkema, vice-president of external affairs at Cardus, and Johanna Lewis, a public policy researcher.
Image by Gundula Vogel from Pixabay


October 24, 2022
"Canadian political leaders are right to voice support for the working class. But do they understand Canada’s new working class and do they have an agenda to match it?" Renze Nauta, Sosina Bezu, and Sean Speer ask probing questions in their commentary in the National Post.
Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash


August 29, 2022
"Toronto is facing another multi-million-dollar budget shortfall. While it’s easy to blame the pandemic, most of the problem is of the city’s own making. For years, Toronto has refused to recognize that construction competition could go a long way in keeping it out of financial trouble," writes Karen Renkema, VP Ontario at the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada.
Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash
Labour
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What else are we working toward?
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects
Strong Family Projects
Human Dignity Projects
Religious Freedom Projects
Healthy Community Projects
Formative Education Projects
Recent Projects