This presentation was part of a lunch and learn hosted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS and the Community Coalition to End Poverty NS entitled Where’s the Social and Economic Justice in Recent Government Budgets? Other panelists included Wayne MacNaughton from the Community Advocates Network and Sheri Lecker from Adsum for Women in Children.
3. The Rich Families and the Rest in NS
Source: Kyle Buott, Judy Haiven and Larry Haiven, Labour Standards (Halifax: CCPA-NS, 2012)
4. Productive Workers not Fairly Rewarded
Source: Kyle Buott, Judy Haiven and Larry Haiven, Labour Standards Reform in NS (Halifax: CCPA-NS, 2012)
5. Losing Ground: Gender Equality in NS
Women in Nova Scotia:
•experience a 71% pay equity gap;
•earn an avg weekly wage of $200 less
than male counterparts;
•are the majority of workers in 8/10 of
lowest paying jobs;
•are the minority in the ten highest paying
occupations;
•constitute about 60 % of minimum wage
workers;
•represent fewer than 5% of active
apprentices, an increase of only .5 % in 15
years.
Source: www.wacns.ca
6. What to look for in the budget that
would advance equality
1. Funding to increase secure employment
at living wages
2. Funding targeted to achieve gender
equality
3. Funding to address the root causes of
poverty and provide dignity to those living
in poverty
4. Adequate revenue to provide quality
services
7. Nova Scotia Budget Highlights
3% cut to Post Secondary: -$10 m
1.5% cut to School Boards:-$17 m
Low income assistance: $8.3 m
Personal tax credit inc: $7.5 m
Energy Rebate: $102 m
Small business tax cut: $10 m
Large Corp Tax: 16.3 m ($92 m)
Total Dept increase: $338 m 3.1%
Total cut over 4 years: $772 m
8. Federal Budget Highlights
Cut Departmental Spending -$1.8 billion this year, $3.5 billion next year,
and to over $5 billion per year from 2014-15.
19,000 jobs up to 50,000 include crown corps agencies and private sector
increase in the age of eligibility for OAS and GIS from age 65 to 67,
“strengthen and clarify what is required of (regular EI) claimants”
6% cut in fed housing programs
National Council on Welfare eliminated ($1.1 m)
Community Access Program funding eliminated
Canadian Revenue Agency will crackdown on registered charities who
engage in political activities ($8 mil).
working income tax benefit (no increase in past 3 years)
corporate tax down to 15% (from 16.5)
9. Public Sector Cuts Hurt Women More
•Women in NS compose 67% and 85% of
education and health employment, respectively;
and 63% of all public sector jobs. These public
sector jobs:
• represent quality jobs, where pay is on
average higher than private sector jobs, with
smaller pay equity gaps;
• are unionized and provide good benefits to
women often including extended health and
maternity benefits. In addition, more women in
the public sector have pensions (2/3 v 1/3 in
the private sector)
10. TAXES: NO LONGER PROGRESSIVE?
From Marc Lee, Eroding Tax Fairness , www.policyalternatives.ca
11. Toby Sanger, CUPE; Sources: Informetrica Ltd, Centre for Spatial Economics, Finance Canada Budget 2009 (p. 240)
15. Budget Choices Comparison
NS Government Budget CCPA NS Alt Budget
3% cut to Post Secondary: -$10 m Early Learning and Child Care:$45 m
1.5% cut to School Boards:-$17 m Cut NSCC Tuition in Half: $16 m
Low income assistance: $8.3 m Increase income assistance: $120 m
Personal tax credit inc: $7.5 m Total new revenue: $327.80 m
Energy Rebate: $102 m Reallocate: $142 m
Small business tax cut: $10 m Total new spending: $492.5 million
Large Corp Tax: 16.3 m ($92 m) Plus Increase in Dept spending to
cover inflation: $166 m
Total Dept increase: $338 m 3.1%
Total cut over 4 years: $772 m
17. WHERE TO FROM HERE?
"a more long-term process that requires
government officials to think about the
economy in new ways that include the
unpaid sector where much of women’s
time and efforts are concentrated.“Isabella
Bakker, Gender Budget Initiatives and Why They Matter in
Canada (Ottawa: CCPA, 2006).
“Greater equality is the gateway to a
society capable of improving the quality
of life for all of us and an essential step
in the development of a sustainable
economic system.” Richard Wilkinson and Kate
Pickett, The Spirit Level see www.equalitytrust.org.uk
18. Greater equality is in everyone's best interest
Thank You.
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