Health care reform could cost employers billions

The Canadian Labor Congress is warning that any dismantling of Medicare will be a bitter pill for employers to swallow.

Employers would face union demands for billions of dollars in new health benefits if there's a serious erosion of socialized medicine, said congress representative Nancy Riche.

Costs of $30-billion could be expected as unions seek to make up for lost services in the public system, she said.

The congress, representing 2.5-million workers, presented its views to the health care commission headed by Roy Romanow, former Saskatchewan premier. He will report to the federal government in November on health care reform.

A Canadian Auto Workers' study said employers pay $8 an hour more in the United States for employee benefits because of the lack of universal Medicare as in Canada.

Riche said the congress is concerned that comments to the commission have largely focused on increased privatization of health care rather than on improving the public system.

Surplus should aid lumber workers

Lumber workers who have lost their jobs over the trade war with the United States should benefit from the growing Employment Insurance surplus, critics say.

The fund is expected to reach $50-billion by next year and should be used to improve benefits instead of being channeled into federal government revenues, said Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labor Congress.

The U.S. government is imposing duties averaging 29 percent on softwood exports after American producers complained Canada's lumber is unfairly subsidized.

About 20,000 lumber workers have lost their jobs in the battle that Canada is taking to the World Trade Organization.

In brief

Tuesday has been designated a national day of mourning in Canada for the queen mother's funeral. Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, representative of Queen Elizabeth II in Canada, will deliver an eulogy at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa while Prime Minister Jean Chretien will attend the funeral in London.

Facts and figures

The largest monthly growth in jobs in more than 25 years pushed Canada's unemployment rate down to 7.7 percent in March, Statistics Canada said Friday.

Economists suggest this is proof of a surging economy and increases the odds the Bank of Canada will begin raising interest rates soon.

For now, there's no change in the Bank of Canada's key interest rate of 2 percent or the 3.75 prime lending rate.

Canada's dollar is higher at 62.89 cents U.S., before bank exchange fees, while the U.S. greenback returns $1.5900 Canadian.

Stock markets are lower, with the Toronto Exchange 300 index at 7,791 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange index is 1,174 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 3, 8, 29, 40, 43 and 44; bonus 17. (March 30) 1, 18, 26, 34, 42 and 48; bonus 7. (March 27) 17, 26, 30, 34, 43 and 48; bonus 46.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright