Activists advance worker issues at political action meetings in Ottawa

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Ottawa – November 30, 2017 – UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema and UFCW Local Union presidents and activists from across the country recently gathered in Ottawa to participate in political action meetings with government ministers and Members of Parliament.

Leadership and activists from UFCW Canada Local Unions and the National Office met with a number of ministers and MPs on November 28 to advance the voice and interests of UFCW Canada members from coast to coast.

The meetings served to introduce federal politicians to the membership and work of UFCW Canada and its Local Unions, and provided activists with an opportunity to discuss several key issues with MPs and their staff, including pension fairness; closing the gender wage gap; creating an affordable child care system and national pharmacare plan; and protecting Canada’s supply management system.

"UFCW Canada members know that we can make the best country in the world even better if we work together to challenge inequity, protect the vulnerable, and commit to fairness as the bedrock of a strong and inclusive Canada,” National President Meinema told MPs at a political action event held later that evening. “That is why we are calling on Members of Parliament to be bold and take action on pension reform, child care, equal pay for equal work, pharmacare, and supply management,” he added.

Throughout the day, UFCW Canada leaders and activists met with Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the NDP; Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour; Sheri Benson, NDP Critic for Labour; Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions; Anne Minh-Thu Quach, NDP critic for Youth; David Lametti, Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development; Scott Duval, NDP Critic for Pensions; Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso; Judy Sgro, MP for Humber River—Black Creek; Raj Grewal, MP for Brampton East; and Ian Foucher, Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Finance.

Activists also met with the staff of Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food; Bardish Chagger, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons; David Christopherson, MP for Hamilton Centre; Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources; and Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.