61 Replies to “Quote Of The Week”

  1. Notice that highly unionized provinces are predominately “have not” provinces. Is that a coincidence or innate?

  2. Yes, the have-not provinces are highly unionized.
    The data tables I’ve seen (statscan 2007) for public service show that of the approx. 6,643,000 Ontario workforce, about 2,313,000 are public service. That doesn’t seem to include security, fire, etc.
    That seems higher than 205 – closer to 35%.
    Nope. Never been a member of a union. I always refused; I consider unions parasites.
    For those of you who support unions, I have to wonder why.

  3. ET: That seems higher than 205 – closer to 35%.
    I was using monthly CANSIM data in my earlier post. It’s not available publicly without fees, so I didn’t link to it.
    You will see from this table — http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/govt62d.htm — that Ontario’s public sector workforce in 2007 is estimated at 1,156,945.
    You will see from this table — http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/labor07b.htm — that Ontario’s total employed workforce in 2007 is estimated at 6,593,800.
    1,156,945/6,593,800 = 0.175
    So, 17.5% (even lower than that reported above, likely because this is based on annual data; trends across provinces still hold). Not 52%, not 35%. Unless you’d like to disclose your data table sources for further scrutiny.

  4. ET, you state proudly that you’ve “never been a member of a union. I always refused.”
    Kudos! It’s rare to find someone of such integrity and principle.
    Tell me, did you also refuse tenure? A cushy salary and a public sector job for life — that’s a deal that any union member would happily tear up their union card in exchange for.

  5. Can anyone explain to me why bob rae is even in ottawa last time i checked he was an unimployed ndper,and he is not an elected mp of anything.

  6. “he is not an elected mp of anything.”
    Neither is Michael Fortier, and he’s serving as your Minister of Public Works and Government Services.
    What’s worse, an unelected guy stealing microphones on Parliament Hill, or an unelected guy at the helm of the federal public services’ central purchasing agency?

  8. eddie t- could you explain why ad hominem attacks on me validate your comments?
    What does my profession have to do with a critique of public service ratio of employment and union control of the employment sector?
    Are you seriously suggesting that IF one is a member of either, then one must not critique such systems? I know that’s a requirement in a socialist ideology but that’s an insistence that one resign reason, critical analysis etc.
    You are obviously a staunch unioniste. That’s your decision. I consider unions parasites in every sense of the word.
    I also consider that our public sector employment ratio is too high and our private sector is constrained in their economic ability by this public dominance in govt decision-making, and in elections.
    My data came from stats canada; you’ve left out govt business enterprises; local municipalities (Toronto has over 40,000);security, fire, etc.

  9. The numbers of unemployed in AB and getting EI only includes those that qualify. Those that have worked part time or do not have 700 hours don’t qualify. Lots of those people around. Maybe things will pick up in the patch next month and these guys can get back to work.

  11. ET: My data came from stats canada;
    Big deal, so do mine. “Stats Canada” is not specific enough, and in any case, without providing a link to the actual data you looked at, there’s no reason to believe your numbers are valid.
    you’ve left out govt business enterprises; local municipalities (Toronto has over 40,000);security, fire, etc.
    Please re-read the first link I provided more carefully. The public sector workforce figure I used — 1,156,945 – includes gov’t business enterprises, local (i.e., municipal) government workers, health and social service depts., etc.
    Again, this raises the question: what numbers are you using?

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