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social architecture

Oct 10, 2017

Fixing Canada’s EI system is critical for the future of work

October 10, 2017

Canada’s employment insurance (EI) system is a major plank of the country’s social architecture. However, the system, now 75 years old, is failing to meet its original intent. EI was established to protect workers against income loss while temporarily out of work and to provide access to job opportunities through training. In order to meet those objectives today, EI needs major reforms. Indeed, the shortfalls that exist in 2017 will only be amplified as the employment landscape continues to change significantly in the decades ahead. Read More

Jun 27, 2017

What if you could take it with you?

June 27, 2017

A portable benefits scheme for all Canadian workers

Imagine it’s the year 2067.

Fifty years from now, what it means to work and have a career has changed entirely and Canada’s labour market is nearly unrecognizable. Innovation and investment have left the economy booming and labour productivity has hit a record high, but almost no one works in the once-standard nine-to-five form of employment. Read More

Jun 22, 2017

Video: Bold Ideas – Making post-secondary education available at no cost to all Canadians

June 22, 2017

In the latest release in Mowat’s Bold Ideas series, Buzzfeed’s Elamin Abdelmahmoud proposes making post-secondary education available to all Canadians – at zero cost. Read More

May 30, 2017

Bringing human rights back into balance

May 30, 2017

The case for social and economic rights in the Charter

With all the commotion around the Charter’s 35th birthday this year, you would be forgiven for thinking that human rights in Canada are a fait accompli. You would also be forgiven for, upon reading the words “human rights” just now, thinking first and foremost of the civil and political rights that our constitution explicitly sets out to define and protect. After all, most conversations around rights in Canada revolve around our civil and political liberties. Read More

May 02, 2017

Mature medicare

May 2, 2017

A Prescription for Canada’s 150th

In 1957, Canada was just ten years shy of celebrating its centennial—still an adolescent nation, wrangling with domestic soul-searching and trying to carve out a name for itself in the international community. That year would see government pass the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act. Read More

Dec 19, 2016

Evidence-based New Year’s Policy Resolutions for Canada in 2017

December 19, 2016

As we approach Canada’s 150th anniversary, we can take pride in how far we’ve come as a country. We’ve connected a vast, sprawling and culturally diverse territory into a strong, inclusive and vibrant country and one of the world’s most prosperous and multicultural nations. Read More

Nov 29, 2016

Sunil Johal on The Scott Thompson Show discussing the future of jobs and automation

November 29, 2016

Interview with Scott Thompson and Mowat’s Policy Director Sunil Johal on the changes to social net due to automation. Read More

Nov 22, 2016

Working Without a Net

November 22, 2016

Rethinking Canada’s social policy in the new age of work

This report explores the implications of new technologies on Canada’s economy and labour market and the adequacy of current social programs and policies supporting workers. Read More

Oct 28, 2016

An era of precarious employment calls for a new social architecture

October 28, 2016

Recently, Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau elicited strong reactions by suggesting Canadians need to get used to precarious employment because it’s the new normal. But the reality could be much worse. Read More