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jimbostanford.bsky.social
Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work in Vancouver, Canada (https://centreforfuturework.ca/). He/him. Harold Innis Industry Professor, Economics Dept., McMaster University, and Honorary Prof. of Political-Economy, University of Sydney
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Posts 22 Comments 28

Let's lift the Digital Services Tax to 25% on U.S.-based digital, data, & streaming companies, incl. Amazon, to match the 25% tariff Trump has on our steel, aluminum, and cars. Yep, that'll make Netflix more expensive. And it'll get the attention of his tech fanboys. #cdnecon #ElbowsUp /2

submitted 16 hours ago • 4 comments

Many thanks to Virginia Galt for this touching, very comprehensive article on the passing of former CAW President Buzz Hargrove: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic.... It really captured his combination of toughness and humanity. 🙏 #canlab @UniforTheUnion

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

It was great to once again join the McMaster Labour Studies Certificate program this evening to speak on Trump's trade war and how unions can contribute to Canada's response. 40 great students from different unions and different provinces. #canlab /2

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

I am joining the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC today to launch this new report from Centre for Future Work Canada on the economic benefits of expanded early learning & child care in the province and to urge the BC govt to step up its phase-in. centreforfuturework.ca/wp-content/u... #canlab

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

This silly rant is predictable and authoritarian, implying that since public education is 'subsidized' by taxpayers, students should ascribe to 'acceptable' political views. But what caught my eye was the gratuitous reference to 'blue-collar workers' in the sub-title. /2 #cdnpoli

submitted 4 days ago • 5 comments

Kudos and thanks to the team at @CanGeo.bsky.social for this amazing special issue for Canada Day. Two great poster maps, beautiful photos, essays and testimonials about our social makeup, not just our land. Grab one for your long weekend reading!! 🇨🇦✊🏼❤️

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Matt Galloway for The Current on CBC always hosts rich & collegial discussions. Here's our chat yesterday about the labour needs for coming big infrastructure & housing projects: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-.... To do this right we need strong training & safety standards. #cdnecon #canlab

submitted 10 days ago • 2 comments

It takes more than mighty construction projects to build a nation. Human services like public healthcare are equally important to growth, jobs, innovation & investment. Here's an open letter signed by 275 Canadian economists & health policy experts centreforfuturework.ca/2025/06/17/t... #cdnecon /2

submitted 10 days ago • 3 comments

Thank you Buzz for your courage, working class loyalty, willingness to push the limits, and your hope. You made such a difference to our union, all workers, and our country. Your legacy lives on everywhere workers fight for a better future. 🙏🏼✊🏼🇨🇦 #canlab

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

The 2008 financial crash didn’t just shake Wall Street — it rewired the world. @jimbostanford.bsky.social (@futurework.org.au), @angella.bsky.social (@cupescfp.bsky.social), and Randall Germain (@carleton.ca) tell @jeyantvo.bsky.social how Canada’s economy is still living in its shadow.

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

Oil futures rose 65% after invasion of Ukraine, even though world oil supply kept growing. That cost Cdns $200b ($12K/household) over next 3 yrs. It's financialized speculation, not supply shocks, that facilitates this price gouging. Get ready for it to happen all over. #cdnecon /2

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

"It wasn’t Ottawa that laid them off, cut their pay, froze the minimum wage, drove up electricity and insurance costs, and put their health care at risk. It was the enemy within."

submitted 33 days ago • 1 comment

Hard to blame "Ottawa's attacks on the oil industry" for the hardship many Albertans experience: Alta oil production (& profits!) are the highest ever. Jobs, wages & living standards are shrinking there cuz of home-grown problems. My take for @thestar.com: www.thestar.com/business/opi...

submitted 33 days ago • 15 comments

Albertans have good reason to be angry: their real wages are down 10%, their minimum wage is frozen, their inflation is worst in Canada, their health care's at risk. None of that was caused by the rest of Canada. My take in today's @TorontoStar: www.thestar.com/business/opi.... #cdnecon

submitted 34 days ago • 22 comments

Pierre Poilievre recently claimed, citing National Bank research, that after years of decline caused by "red tape" Canada's manufacturing sector is now smaller than Ireland's. This claim is clearly false. My post for the Progressive Economics Forum: progressive-economics.ca/2025/05/more... #cdnecon

submitted 36 days ago • 3 comments

A prematurely smug Conservative troll (echoing a prematurely smug Conservative leader) challenged me to update my chart from last year regarding the non-relationship between the carbon price and inflation. OK, let's do it. #cdnecon #canlab /2

submitted 38 days ago • 4 comments

I will join @rogerfpetersen on @CTVNews Channel around 6pm-ish ET to discuss today's worrisome 🇨🇦 job numbers--especially job losses in manufacturing that have Donald Trump's sharpie all over them. #cdnecon

submitted 49 days ago • 1 comment

ITW: Canada’s federal gov #innovation programs ≠ #commercialization, panellists said in a @sciencepolicy.bsky.social webinar. 📈 Per capita GDP isn't the tool to measure Canada's economic performance, says @jimbostanford.bsky.social of the Centre for Future Work.💲 & more! ⬇️ zurl.co/NO22j

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Just in time for Prime Minister Carney's meeting with Donald Trump, I have analyzed new U.S. Census Bureau data on bilateral Canada-U.S. trade (now including full-year 2024 results). Full analysis here: progressive-economics.ca/2025/05/late.... #cdnecon #cdnpoli /2

submitted 53 days ago • 3 comments

This is an excellent thread: While focused specifically on Canada, the principle of why GDP per capita is not the whole story on economic health is generally applicable.

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

Hey economics students: Submit a 2024-25 term paper to the Progressive Economics Forum's annual student essay contest: www.progressive-economics.ca/pef-student-.... Good recognition & a bit of $$$ for students willing to challenge the strictures of conventional free-market thought. #cdnecon #canlab

submitted 58 days ago • 0 comments

A fantastic thread & the article is a great read about how GDP can be an incredibly misleading measure of how well a population is doing economically. #Momsky #Canadastrong

submitted 66 days ago • 0 comments