Labor Markets and Inequality

Labour Markets

• Labour markets connect people seeking jobs with employers seeking workers, revolving around the supply and demand of labour.
• Rapid changes in jobs are occurring because of technology like AI, the prevalence of globalization, and the gig economy.
• Certain jobs are disappearing as others emerge, potentially impacting specific demographics and locations.
• Stable, full-time employment is becoming less common, with more individuals engaged in short-term or part-time work, aka the gig economy.

Inequality

• Inequality is characterized by significant disparities in income, wealth, and opportunities among different groups or people.
• The wealth distribution gap is widening.
• Individuals with more education and connections tend to secure higher-paying positions.
• Job insecurity, fewer benefits, and challenging working conditions are more often experienced by low-income workers.
• Racial and gender inequalities in the job market are still a persistent issue.

The Future of Work

• Jobs, required skills, and workplaces are anticipated to undergo changes in the future.
• Automation and AI can replace some jobs, especially repetitive ones.
• Problem-solving, communication, and tech-savviness will be skills in higher demand.
• Workers will need to continually learn new skills to remain competitive.
• Governments, schools, and employers must help people adapt through training, education, and equitable policies.

Lehman & Adams

• Policy is key in supporting workers amid job market changes through laws and social programs.

Yalnizyan

• An economy that benefits everyone, not just the wealthy, should be prioritized along with stonger social safety nets.

Boisvert

• People need jobs with meaning, security, and dignity, not just financial compensation.

Immigration & the Canadian Mosaic part 1 (Satzewich and Liodakis)

• Canada is often called a "mosaic" because many cultures live together.
• Unlike a "melting pot," the mosaic celebrates cultural identities.
• Immigration has been a consistent contributor to Canada's population and economic growth.
• Immigrants offer valuable skills, labour, and diverse perspectives.
• Over time, immigration policies have evolved, transitioning from racist and selective practices toward inclusivity (at least in the written policy).
• Canada uses a points system to assess immigrants based on their skills, education, and language proficiency.
• The three main categories of immigrants are: economic class, family class, and refugees.
• Satzewich and Liodakis encourage critical examination of the true inclusivity of the Canadian mosaic.

Immigration and the Canadian Mosaic part 2 (Harford, Ann, Alhmidi)

• Ann Harford focused on immigrant women, especially women of color.
• These women face double discrimination from both racism and sexism.
• Important labour like caregiving and cleaning is often undervalued and underpaid.
• Recognizing immigrant labour as vital to society is key.
• Alhmidi shares her personal experiences as an immigrant.
• Immigrants feel pressure to assimilate or become more "Canadian."
• The struggle to keep their culture while also being accepted is emphasized.
• Racism and exclusion continue despite Canada's claims of inclusivity.

Migrant Workers (Arat-Koc, Thompson, Black)

• Migrant workers are people who leave their home country to work in another country, often for low wages and under harsh conditions.

Arat-Koc

• Migrant workers, particularly women, often do care work in Canada (childcare and elder care).
• Many leave their families to care for others.
• This creates an imbalance where wealthy countries gain and poor countries suffer.
• This imbalance is called a "care drain" since rich countries gain workers and caregivers while poor countries lose them.

Thompson

• Migrant workers are treated unfairly which can cause racism and poor working conditions.
• They often lack the same rights as local workers, including rights to healthcare and fair pay.
• Employers may exert excessive control over migrant workers, including their living arrangements and ability to stay in the country.

Black

• Migrant work is part of a much bigger global system.
• Migration connects global inequality issues between wealthy and poor nations.
• Some countries depend on the money their workers living abroad send back home.
• Migrant workers are an essential, but undervalued labour source.

Criminal Justice System: Family Violence (Ursel, Kulha, Hasham and Gillis)

• Criminal justice involves abuse among partners, parents, children, or other family members.
• It is not just physical but includes emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse.
• Police often respond first to reports of family violence.
• A case can progress to court, where charges may be filed.
• Crown prosecutors decide whether to proceed based on evidence.
• Judges may issue protection orders and sentences.

Challenges in Handling Family Violence Cases

• Victims might hesitate to report abuse due to fear, love, or financial dependence.
• Prosecution can be complicated by victims withdrawing complaints or refusing to testify.
• Biases or misunderstandings can exist within the system, e.g. viewing violence as a private matter.
• Protecting victims, holding abusers accountable, and promoting safety are key goals of the justice system, which requires robust community and social service support.

Criminal Justice System: Marginalized Groups (Dickson-Gilmore, Mas, Rosenthal, Anderson)

• Marginalized groups, like Indigenous people, Black communities, and people in poverty, face heightened surveillance and punishment.
• The justice system often mirrors existing social inequalities, leading to unequal treatment.
• Systemic bias stems from laws and institutions built without input from marginalized communities.

Dickson-Gilmore

• A focus on Indigenous people and restorative justice is needed.
• The current system is based on punishment, and often fails Indigenous communities where healing would be more effective.
• Community-based justice that incorporates traditions, culture, and healing should be supported.
• Colonialism shaped unjust policies that impact Indigenous people.

Mas

• Racialized and poor communities are disproportionately targeted by standard policing practices.
• Structural racism and implicit bias influence decisions made by police and the courts.
• Training and accountability are critical for reforms in policing practices.

Rosenthal

• The court system is disadvantageous to legal participants without resources and who cannot afford lawyers or post bail.
• Legal processes can be intimidating and unfair to individuals unfamiliar with the legal system.
• Equitable access to justice can be achieved through more and better legal aid and better support for marginalized people.

Anderson

• Anderson hones in on Black communities and the ways they interact with the criminal justice system.
• Communities create their own "code of the street" rules because they do not trust police or courts.
• Imbalances caused by over-policing and under-protection leave communities feeling unsafe and disrespected.
• Building trust in communities and finding alternate policing strategies should be a priority.

Class, Health Inequality, and Social Justice (Porter)

Class

• Class refers to a person’s social rank based on income, education, and job, determining their access to money, education, and power.

Health Inequality

• People from lower classes often have worse health outcomes as they live in poorer neighborhoods, cannot afford healthcare, and experience stress from poverty.

Social Justice

• Social justice seeks to create a fair society with equal access to healthcare, education, and opportunities, and fixing inequalities faced by lower-class people.

Porter’s Key Ideas

• Social systems shape health, going beyond personal choices.
• Economic inequality fuels inequality in health.
• Addressing class differences and promoting fairness is fundamental when striving to uplift population health.

Racialization, Ethnocultural Diversity, and Health (Hornosty, Amin, Adhopia)

Racialization

• People are seen and treated based on common stereotypes relating to race, despite whether or not they are accurate.
• Value and assumptions are linked to physical features like skin color.
• Unequal treatment and unfair assumptions result from racialization.

Ethnocultural Diversity

• Ethnocultural diversity mixes cultures, ethnicities, languages, and traditions in a community or region.
• Diversity introduces valuable perspectives, customs, and strengths.
• Not everyone experiences inclusion or equal treatment within diverse societies.

Health Impacts

• Racism and exclusion correlate with poorer mental and physical health outcomes.
• Stress from discrimination can lead to anxiety, depression, or high blood pressure.
• Language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and unequal access impacts healthcare quality.

Systemic Inequality

• Health systems can have inherent biases that creates disadvantages for certain groups.
• Policies and practices might not reflect or respect the needs of diverse populations.
• Some communities might be misunderstood, under-researched, misdiagnosed, and mistrustful of healthcare interventions.

What Can Help?

• Providing culturally sensitive healthcare, respecting cultural identities, and avoiding judgment.
• Aim for better representation across all fields of healthcare.
• Healthcare officials can undergo anti-racism training.
• Strategize policies that address social determinants of health like housing, income, and education.

Health Inequality, and Disability (Shuey et al, Trick)

Health Inequality

• Health inequality describes when not everyone can be healthy.
• Those of lower income, education, and wealth often have poorer health.
• Healthcare access, systems, and policies can affect people unequally.
• Social factors have an impact on health.
• Inequalities can carry on across generations.

Disability and Health Inequality

• People with disabilities can face a variety of barriers that hinder their health.
• These include poor access to healthcare, discrimination, and inaccessible buildings.
• Trick highlights that disability and poverty go hand-in-hand.
• Disability can lead to lower income, however manageability decreases as personal income decreases.
• Society often frames disabilities through the perspective of something being medically "wrong" with a body, rather than it being a social barrier.

Immigration Policy

• Canada uses the Point-Based System to review immigration applications and award points based on age, skills, education, work experience, and language skills.
• Express Entry helps fast-track applications for skilled workers, who can be permanently fast tracked based on a ranking system.
• Family Sponsorship allows legal immigrants to sponsor family for residency.
• The Canadian government offers protection to refugees fleeing disaster and violence.
• Provinces run Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) to nominate and attract immigrants to their specific region to help fill unique labor needs.
• Foreign workers can receive a temporary work permit when there is a demand unmet by local workers.
• Canada offers student permits, allowing international students a path to work permits and permanent residency.
• Immigrants can pursue citizenship after meeting residency terms.
• Annual Immigration targets are set based on economic and humanitarian goals along with family reunification.
• Applicants often need to demonstrate competency in English or French via tests.
• All immigrants undergo health and security checks to ensure they are not a health risk.
• The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) helps fill seasonal work needs.
• Employers need to prove an inability to recruit Canadian workers through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• Seasonal workers receive temporary work permits.
• The Foreign Domestic Movement Program helped bring in Canada foreign workers in roles like housekeeping, caregiving, and childcare.
• Workers with experience from foreign countries were prioritized, and after a residency permit could be attained.
• A Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) stipulated living in the home of the employer and evolved into the Caregiver Program, including care positions for children, elderly, or people with disabilities.
• In 2014, the law shifted to offer more worker protections.
• Immigrants and refugees in Canada often have a greater rate of unemployment.
• Language, non-recognition of foreign credentials, limited Canadian job experience, and discrimination all impact new worker inequalities.

Families and Victimization

• Family violence can form a damaging cycle of abuse, tension, violence, and reconciliation.
• Most often the victims are women in a power dynamic that highlights control.
• Abuse includes emotional, physical, psychological, sexual, and financial forms.
• Troubled individuals or individuals with mental issues can abuse, so there isn't one perfect offender profile.
• The impact of experiencing violence as a child can result in devastating outcomes.
• Domestic Violence Courts offer tailored responses, specialized proceedings, and support to victims.
• Offenders undergo rehabilitation, accountability, and have access to victim services.
• A National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls highlighted that over 10% of reported missing women were Indigenous, despite only being 4% of the population.
• Colonialism and the legacy of residential schools contribute to current causes.
• There has been inadequacy in legal enforcement along with demonstrated prejudice and stereotypes.
• Socioeconomic issues like cultural factors around poverty and substance abuse intensify problems.
• Call for Justice recommendations include respect for Indigenous culture, anti-racism programs, and providing equitable access to economic opportunities.
• Family members have a role in supporting survivors.

Health and Wellness

• Genes, lifestyle, and healthcare access have well-documented influence on health outcomes.
• Stress, anxiety, and depression can negatively impact mental health in turn influencing physical health.
• Traditions and culture can guide diet and approaches to medical treatment.
• Vaccination, healthcare, safe drinking water, and education improve community health outcomes.
• Socio-economic inequalities, or a lack of income and education all correlate with poorer health.
• Social factors like a lack of safe housing, poor nutrition, or inequality all negatively affect communities.
• Canadian protections for individuals with disabilities exist through policy under the Human Rights Act, with additional access provided for in Ontario.
• Access to IVF treatment differs from province to province.