Publications

Lest We Forget   By Jack Bourassa  Lest we forget. It’s that time of the year again. People proudly wearing their red poppies close to their hearts. They give a powerful message: we’ll always remember. Remembrance Day is around the corner. I want us to bring the spirit of remembrance to our daily lives. What’s the best way to honour and remember our brave women and men? There is no one way, but I will share my thoughts and aspirations with you. 

By Jack Bourassa  A homeless person asking for change. An unemployed hopeless youth. A single parent working two jobs. A worker earning a minimum wage that’s way below a Living Wage. A child deprived of nutritious food. A family striving to find an affordable place to call home. Poverty is real and we witness it every day.

By Jack Bourassa    We don’t inherit this planet; we borrow it from our children and grandchildren. Our mistakes are their future. Is it climate change, crisis or emergency? Climate change affects our lives— and in a serious pattern. This is not only about the weather getting warmer, an idea that climate change deniers love to dwell on. Climate change means extreme weather events and natural disasters such as wildfires, floods and droughts putting people’s lives at imminent risk.

By Jack Bourassa   Buying groceries, going to the drugstore or running errands around town sounds like everyday activities that many of us do without thinking twice. Whatever we do, there is at least one activity that we all share: shopping. We all have "purchase power" and we use it every day. I wrote in the past about buying local, buying Canadian products and supporting our economy. I want to add to the list: buy from a store where employees are treated fairly.

By Jack Bourassa   The personal is political. This is not just a slogan. This phrase has always inspired me. I asked myself if the need for affordable housing is a personal issue for someone else— an argument often presented. The hunt for affordable housing, sadly, is a personal problem for many. And “the personal is political” as affecting change requires political will.

By Jack Bourassa   “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools”— Martin Luther King Jr.

From REVP's Desk  By Jack Bourassa    It’s been a tumultuous year for unionized workers in the Northwest Territories and Yukon. Nunavut has also had its share of problems in recent years. Currently, almost 4,000 workers are facing a potential strike and time on a picket line in the Northwest Territories. Employers are taking a hard line in negotiations, leaving many workers with no choice but to strike to bring about change. That’s why it’s important to talk about picket line etiquette, and why it’s so important to never cross a picket line.

Jack Bourassa Regional Executive Vice President, PSAC North   Since 1918, November 11, 11 A.M has been a distinguished time – it’s not only a time to remember, but also to reflect and learn. Many of us might have attended a ceremony or observed a moment of silence. The date and the time mark the end of hostilities during World War I (WWI), that took the lives of more than 60,000 Canadians. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. This made it, internationally, a day to commemorate.

By Jack Bourassa, PSAC North REVP  October 10 is internationally observed every year as World Mental Health Day. Being officially recognized by World Health Organization (WHO), observing this day comes with the “overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.” Nationally, Mental Health Awareness Week was observed a few weeks ago, October 1-7. 

  Please Join the PSAC Nunavut Area Council & Northern Territories Federation of Labour in an act of solidarity as we remember workers killed or injured on the job. Let’s renew our commitment to creating healthy and safe workplaces. This free event is open to the public and all ages are welcome. DAY OF MOURNING CEREMONY APRIL 28, 2018 12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. LOBBY OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 926 Federal Road