Tom Parkin / Data Shows

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Tom Parkin / Data Shows

Research, analysis and opinion on key Canadian economic and political issues, data-driven.

24/10/2025

After 10 months of Trump, the PM still has no Buy Canadian plan and he talks about “generational” projects that won’t get shovels into dirt for years

Where is urgency for the 1.5 million Canadians unemployed today?

From his heights in the stratosphere, Carney is not seeing the 1.5 million Canadians without a paycheque today.

22/10/2025

The federal NDP isn’t building from scratch. It’s building on two popular provincial governments, four official oppositions and 195 legislators

A new federal leader can either be an asset to provincial wings — defeating Danielle Smith along the way — and make them allies in building the federal NDP, or make everything even worse

A federal leader who helps re-elect NDP governments and turn NDP oppositions leaders into NDP premiers will build the federal better and faster. And get rid of Danielle Smith.

15/10/2025

Poilievre is wrong on facts to say population growth is causing unemployment — pop growth was under 1% last year

But it’s a feeling, and you can’t fight feelings with facts

Can the feelings he’s fuelling be displaced with one of social solidarity? Do demands for job creation and revived economic strength create that feeling of unity in diversity?

He’s weak on facts. But strong on feelings. Destructive ones. Can a jobs focus be a counter-feeling?

10/10/2025

Workers pay the price for Doug Ford having no jobs plan

47,000 Ontario jobs vanish in September and unemployment rate continues its two year rise hitting 7.9%

Workers are leaving the labour market as jobs in manufacturing, construction and retail shrink

While BC, Alberta and Manitoba enjoyed jobs growth, others had moderate job losses, Ontario workers paid a hard price with 47,000 fewer jobs

08/10/2025

Data shows Ford PCs’ court enforcement of the Employment Standards Act has all but stopped

“Doug Ford works hard at distraction, and we pay the price as working people,” says OFL president Laura Walton

From 1,500 charges in 2015 there were just 156 last year — and 25% of them were withdrawn

Or maybe wage theft has just stopped being a thing!

Did previously negligent employers suddenly all decide to comply with laws? Or did the PC government just stop enforcing laws?

02/10/2025

To justify the UCP’s eight year minimum wage freeze, Premier Smith falsely claimed the Notley NDP’s increases caused “mass layoffs” of young workers

In fact, there were 22,100 fewer unemployed young workers at the end of Notley’s term than at its beginning

Fact is, Notley's NDP cut youth unemployment by 22,100 people while hiking the minimum wage.

30/09/2025

Doug Ford works hard to distract from his electricity muddle

And Ontarians pay the price with money, emissions, and an uncertain electricity supply

Ask yourself, how much should you pay for Doug Ford’s messes?

Ontarians are paying the price in money, emissions and uncertainty about where Ontario's future electricity will come from.

26/09/2025

The cost of Doug Ford is 91,000 employees let go in July and 19,000 fewer job openings. There are now five job-seekers for every job opening

And many still working are paying the price with reduced shift hours.

Ontarians are paying the price for a premier who doesn't believe there's a jobs problem, and has no plan to address it.

25/09/2025

Stiles has vowed to transform the NDP into a party that can defeat and replace the Ford PCs

Given the PCs’ high polling levels, that goal requires attacking PC strengths. Stiles’ new emphasis on Ford’s poor record on jobs is an early test of how that can be done

Convention delegates made it clear the goal is to defeat and replace Doug Ford. That first requires kicking-out the legs PC support rests on.

24/09/2025

Ontario’s residential construction sector is small and getting smaller, thanks to PC housing failure

Jobs are down 10% over two years, but there hasn’t been much public complaining, likely because PC political meddling in the Skills Development Fund has raised fears

Ontario's residential construction sector is small and getting smaller, but sector unions appear reluctant to publicly raise concerns as the Ford government weaponizes a key grant program.

18/09/2025

The new “jobs and economy voter”: not older and wealthy, they're young or low income, the people first hurt in a jobs downturn.

Parties seeking their support need to sharpen focus on creating and protecting jobs

“Jobs and the economy” voters aren't older and wealthy, they're young and low income, the people first hurt in a jobs downturn.

17/09/2025

Doug Ford’s “look harder” comment is probably resonating with a lot of people, but not the way he would like

There are now 800,000 unemployed in Ontario, and StatsCan yesterday reports in Q2 2025 there were only 179,000 job openings

There were 200,000 fewer Ontario job vacancies in Q2 2025 than Q2 2023

Doug Ford’s “look harder” comment explains why Ontario has no jobs plan: because he denies there’s an unemployment problem.

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