Economists debunk myth of "labour shortage"

A team of economists at TD Bank went searching for that crippling labour shortage that the Harperites have been flogging for eight years.

They couldn't find it.

What they did find was "skills mismatches" that could readily be remedied by delivery of appropriate skills training.

The number one indicator that there is no actual labour shortage lies in the fact that there has been little or no upward pressure on wages. Even an imbecile knows that, per Economics 101, the price of a commodity will go up if it is in scarce supply.

So why the constant harping about labour shortages from the Harperites?

Because it allows them to import labour into the country on a vast scale. This has the salutory effect of keeping downward pressure on wages; keeping labour "flexible" in neolib speak. Training Canadians for those "skills mismatches" is a concept that gets plenty of lip service but no actual programs. Witness the many government adverts for various "Job Action Plans" that consist of nothing beyond their advertising slogans.

This is the reality for Canadian workers under the Harper regime; fighting unpaid interns and Temporary Foreign Workers for jobs while drowning in PR propaganda about what the Harper gang is doing for you.

Big Steve's pogie police are coming for YOU!!

Ya, you know who you are, you malingerers and shirkers you. Construction workers laid off for a few months in the winter. Fishermen. Folks who just got "downsized."

Big Steve is on to you.

You think just because you pay into this "employment insurance plan" they call EI, you should be paid out when you're unemployed?

Ha! Is the joke ever on you my friend!

For generations federal governments have used EI, or UI as it was formerly known, as a cash cow to fluff up general revenues. Instead of using the workers' money to retrain and support workers, it's just a profit centre.

Now it comes out that Service Canada investigators are going to be coming round to see if you're sitting on the couch with a beer in your hand when you're supposedly out looking for work. Not only that, but every investigator is expected to find $485 thousand in "fraud," ie you sitting on the couch with a beer in your hand.

Surely there must be a McDonalds or a Timmies within an hour's drive of your apartment where you could get a minimum wage job instead of being a drain on that "insurance plan" you've been paying into your entire working life.

Canadian workers being set up for massive screw-over

Those Canadian workers who still have decent jobs that pay a living wage should start paying attention.

Decent jobs paying a living wage are toxic to the likes of the Harper gang and their cheerleaders in the Chamber of Commerce and the various business lobbies.

Have a look at what your political overlords in Ottawa are thinking:

In an effort to allay concerns, Menzies also provided some examples of what the government views as suitable employment.

"A mining company in Newfoundland is looking to hire 1,500 people in St. John's, Newfoundland, through the temporary foreign-worker program. There are 32,500 people (in Newfoundland) looking for work right now. That is why we are trying to make EI more effective to help these mining companies get people to employ," Menzies said in the House of Commons.

"Another example I will give: Nova Scotia's recent shipbuilding contract will create over 15,000 jobs over the next 30 years, and the provincial government is already talking about importing workers. At this point there are 45,000 Nova Scotians looking for work."

That's Ted Menzies, junior Minister of Finance thinking out loud.

What he's thinking about is that pogey is way too generous and is holding you back from getting a job. 

That's right, and you know who you are. 

You could be fully qualified for one of those $90,000/yr. jobs at the mine in Newfoundland but because the Employment Insurance system is paying you $300 a week to sit on the couch you absolutely refuse to take one.

You can bet that when Menzies thinks out loud he's thinking for the entire Harper cabinet.

What you're seeing here is a two-pronged attack.

On the one hand they're clearly signalling that they plan to strip the already shoddy EI program.

On the other, they're telling us it's full steam ahead for bringing in foreign workers.

The Harper gang has such a hard-on for foreign workers they've already made it legal to pay them 15% less than the prevailing wage.

That will soon be 25%. 

See where we're going here?

Not only will there be 101 new ways to deny you employment insurance benefits, but you'll get to compete for jobs with "temporary foreign workers" who are by legislation allowed to undercut your wage.

You OK with that?