Posts by Keith Reynolds

Keith Reynolds

About Keith Reynolds

Keith Reynolds is the former National Research Representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees. He has done policy work for all three levels of government. His areas of expertise include privatization, P3s, and municipal government and finance. Follow Keith on Twitter

ILO points to low union density and low minimum wages as causes of economic collapse

Jan 8, 2011
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One more major international organization has published a report commenting on the damage done by growing inequality in society.  In December the International Labour Organization (ILO) published its second Global Wage Report.  The first such report examined trends in global wages in good times.  This one examines what happened in the economic collapse. Looking at… View Article

UNICEF shames Canada for inequality among children

Dec 16, 2010
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In an earlier blog Shannon Daub reported on Mark Milke’s assertion that inequality was a lot of humbug.  UNICEF has published a report that shows that it is children who bear the burden of inequality and that children are not to blame for it.  When many of us think about UNICEF we think of an… View Article

Something for the toolbox

Dec 12, 2010
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 CCPA Research Associate Marvin Shaffer has written a book that deserves to be in the toolbox of people questioning decisions around government projects. The title of the book – Multiple Account Benefit-Cost Analysis: A practical Guide for the Systematic Evaluation of Project and Policy Alternatives – won’t have it jumping off the shelves in time for… View Article

Reduction in unionization helped break the economy

Dec 5, 2010
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Do unions have any role in today’s society?  Right wing organizations like the Fraser Institute say no but a report from an unlikely source suggests otherwise.  The International Monetary Fund, no left wing organization, has published a paper suggesting the decline of unionization is one of the causes of the financial crisis and an increase… View Article

Our taxes really aren’t too high says Liberal backbencher

Nov 17, 2010
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A follow up to Blair Redlin’s post on municipal taxation.  It appears that at least one backbench MLA in BC’s Liberal government also thinks businesses are getting a pretty good deal from our local governments. West Vancouver – Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan has an opinion piece on his website in which he says “Vancouver reigns… View Article

Auditor has reservations about the government’s books

Nov 2, 2010
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For two years in a row BC’s Auditor General has placed reservations on his report that looks at the Province’s finances as set out in the Public Accounts.  This means that the AG disagrees with the way the province is keeping its books on three different issues.  He also presents other ideas on what the… View Article

Premier picks “can do” guy to sell HST in Cabinet shuffle

Oct 27, 2010
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MLA John Les returned from the political wilderness Monday when the Premier appointed him Parliamentary Secretary for HST Information in his Cabinet shuffle.  In my mind it was one the most dubious choices in what was a controversial remixing at the top. Earlier, Les had served as Solicitor General until losing his post during an… View Article

On average, who knew Wednesday was World Statistics Day?

Oct 22, 2010
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I’ll bet I was one of the few people in British Columbia that was a little excited that last Wednesday was set aside to honour statistics. The United Nations General Assembly declared October 20th World Statistics Day.  The Under-Secretary for Economic and Social Affairs issued a statement saying: Reliable, timely data are crucial for economic… View Article

What do we value more? Good taste or saving young lives?

Oct 9, 2010
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Last May there was uproar in the media about an advertising campaign planned by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).  The Insurance Corporation was targeting young drivers with a racy campaign to persuade them not to drink and drive.   The then Solicitor General Kash Heed put the kibosh on the campaign that had cost… View Article