Published
Aging and Income Security
A retired teacher stretches her pension to cover rising property taxes and prescription costs not fully covered by provincial pharmacare. A widower discovers that his wife's CPP survivor benefit doesn't come close to replacing her income. A senior without workplace pension history depends entirely on OAS and GIS, living just above the poverty line—sometimes just below it.
Work-Life Balance
Work-Life Balance
Is the Hustle Worth the Hype?
The phrase “work-life balance” is everywhere—on job postings, wellness webinars, even the breakroom bulletin board. But between emails at midnight, shift-swapping, and that ever-present “just one more task,” the balance can feel more like a teeter-totter in a windstorm.
So what does real balance look like, and who’s responsible for making it happen?
The Juggle Is Real
Modern work can blur the lines between office and home, weekday and weekend:
Women in the Workforce
Women in the Workforce
Is the Glass Ceiling Cracking—or Just Getting a Fresh Coat of Paint?
Women make up almost half of Canada’s workforce, but the path from the classroom to the corner office is anything but smooth. From pay gaps and career breaks to leadership hurdles and the “second shift” at home, women’s experiences at work are as diverse as the jobs they do.
Progress and Pitfalls
Wage Theft and Underpayment
Wage Theft and Underpayment
When a Paycheque Isn’t the End of the Story
You work hard. You clock in, clock out, and wait for payday. But what happens when the number on your pay stub doesn’t add up—or when promised wages, overtime, or vacation pay never show up at all? Welcome to the world of wage theft and underpayment—a problem that’s more common than many realize.
What Does Wage Theft Look Like?
Wage theft isn’t always dramatic, but its impact is real. It can include:
Universal Basic Income
Universal Basic Income
A Safety Net for All, or a Leap into the Unknown?
The idea is as simple as it is bold: What if every Canadian received a guaranteed income—no strings attached? Universal Basic Income (UBI) has moved from economic thought experiment to kitchen table conversation, as questions about automation, inequality, and social safety nets heat up.
But is UBI the answer to the challenges of modern work, or a risky experiment that could change the way society operates?
What Is Universal Basic Income, Anyway?
The Transition from Education to Employment
The Transition from Education to Employment
Is the Bridge Built—Or Are Graduates Left to Swim?
Graduation day: caps fly, photos snap, dreams soar. Then reality lands with a thud—resumés, job applications, interviews, and (let’s be honest) a healthy dose of confusion. For many Canadians, the path from the classroom to the workplace is more obstacle course than conveyor belt.
Skills, Expectations, and Reality Checks
Schools promise to prepare students for “the real world,” but what does that actually mean?
The Role of Government and Policy in Employment
The Role of Government and Policy in Employment
Who Writes the Rules—and Who Gets to Play?
When it comes to work in Canada, government isn’t just a referee on the sidelines—it often writes the rulebook, sets the field, and sometimes even picks the teams. From minimum wage to job safety, from unemployment insurance to anti-discrimination laws, government policy is woven into every paycheque, contract, and workplace break room.
What Does Policy Really Do?
At its best, policy can:
The Role of Government and Policy
The Role of Government and Policy
Is Ottawa (or Queen’s Park) Calling the Shots on Your Paycheque?
Behind every minimum wage hike, employment insurance claim, or labour rights headline is a maze of policies—and a lot of government hands at the steering wheel. But how much should government really shape our working lives? And who decides when (or if) it’s time for a change?
Policy: The Invisible Boss