Jim Stanford
@jimbostanford.bsky.social
Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work in Vancouver, Canada (https://centreforfuturework.ca/). He/him. Harold Innis Industry Professor, Economics Dept., McMaster University, and Honorary Prof. of Political-Economy, University of Sydney
I was honoured this week to speak at the Annual Meeting of @aftinet.bsky.social, Australia's fair trade network, on the dangers of Trump's madness for the rest of the world. Here's the full presentation: aftinet.org.au/jim-stanford.... Many thanks to everyone at AFTINET for your stalwart activism!
November 14, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I was honoured this week to speak at the Annual Meeting of @aftinet.bsky.social, Australia's fair trade network, on the dangers of Trump's madness for the rest of the world. Here's the full presentation: aftinet.org.au/jim-stanford.... Many thanks to everyone at AFTINET for your stalwart activism!
Just renewed my #ICBC car insurance for a year, cost me all of $1477. That's $80 cheaper than last year, which was cheaper than the year before. Public auto insurance is a wonderful thing! Here's the 10-yr change in auto insurance costs by province from StatsCan. #bcpoli #cdnpoli
November 14, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Among the nice surprises in today's 🇨🇦 jobs report: Manufacturing added 9K jobs in Oct despite Trump's attacks. That puts us above 0 on a year/year basis. Compare that to the self-inflicted LOSS of 78K manufacturing jobs in the US. Trump's trade war backfires for US workers. #cdnecon #canlab
November 7, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Trump: “Stop making me look bad, or else I’ll shoot myself in the foot again.”
Stay tuned: This afternoon Pierre Poilievre and Brian Lilley will give a two-part panel presentation on why this is Canada’s fault.
Stay tuned: This afternoon Pierre Poilievre and Brian Lilley will give a two-part panel presentation on why this is Canada’s fault.
October 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Trump: “Stop making me look bad, or else I’ll shoot myself in the foot again.”
Stay tuned: This afternoon Pierre Poilievre and Brian Lilley will give a two-part panel presentation on why this is Canada’s fault.
Stay tuned: This afternoon Pierre Poilievre and Brian Lilley will give a two-part panel presentation on why this is Canada’s fault.
Alberta teachers saw their real salaries cut by 13.2% since the last contract started in Sept 2020--the worst in Canada. The Alberta government wants to lock in that pay cut by ordering teachers back to work. The teachers' position is 100% morally & economically valid. #canlab
October 24, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Alberta teachers saw their real salaries cut by 13.2% since the last contract started in Sept 2020--the worst in Canada. The Alberta government wants to lock in that pay cut by ordering teachers back to work. The teachers' position is 100% morally & economically valid. #canlab
Our Centre for Future Work is co-sponsoring with @policyalternatives.ca an 'Elbows Up' webinar at 1pmET on Fri.Oct.31 (🎃fitting given our spooky times!) to follow up our recent Elbows Up Summit. Register at: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi.... We'll share strategies for a genuine Elbows Up strategy. /2
October 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Our Centre for Future Work is co-sponsoring with @policyalternatives.ca an 'Elbows Up' webinar at 1pmET on Fri.Oct.31 (🎃fitting given our spooky times!) to follow up our recent Elbows Up Summit. Register at: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi.... We'll share strategies for a genuine Elbows Up strategy. /2
My chat with Deana Sumanac-Johnson on CBC News Network about Stellantis' decision, and how Ottawa must respond: cbc.ca/player/play/.... "This is the 1st battle in a long war to save Canada's auto industry." A parade of MNCs across high-tech industries will follow if we don't reverse this.
October 18, 2025 at 10:48 PM
My chat with Deana Sumanac-Johnson on CBC News Network about Stellantis' decision, and how Ottawa must respond: cbc.ca/player/play/.... "This is the 1st battle in a long war to save Canada's auto industry." A parade of MNCs across high-tech industries will follow if we don't reverse this.
Globally, Canada's min wages (averaged across provinces) are not high relative to domestic price & wage levels. The minimum wage "bite" measures the min as a % of median wages. By this standard Canada (with min = 50% median) ranks 21st out of 30 OECD countries with min wages. /4
October 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Globally, Canada's min wages (averaged across provinces) are not high relative to domestic price & wage levels. The minimum wage "bite" measures the min as a % of median wages. By this standard Canada (with min = 50% median) ranks 21st out of 30 OECD countries with min wages. /4
Many provinces now tie annual min wage increments to changes in the CPI. That's not enough, cuz it locks in wages that are too low. However, over the last 5 years MOST provinces have done better: the real min wage grew in most provinces (again, Alta is the painful exception). /3
October 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Many provinces now tie annual min wage increments to changes in the CPI. That's not enough, cuz it locks in wages that are too low. However, over the last 5 years MOST provinces have done better: the real min wage grew in most provinces (again, Alta is the painful exception). /3
5 provinces increased their minimum wages today. So let's celebrate this mainstay tool of labour market regulation with a few fun facts. B.C. retains its crown, holding the highest prov min wage (Nunavut & Yukon higher). Alberta now takes sole possession of last spot. #canlab /2
October 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
5 provinces increased their minimum wages today. So let's celebrate this mainstay tool of labour market regulation with a few fun facts. B.C. retains its crown, holding the highest prov min wage (Nunavut & Yukon higher). Alberta now takes sole possession of last spot. #canlab /2
In the last decade, Canada's gone from net borrower to net lender with the U.S., now running a $1.6t net credit. We discuss the causes of this shift, and the opportunity to repatriate capital as part of our response to Trump, in the 'Elbows Up Factbook': www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
September 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
In the last decade, Canada's gone from net borrower to net lender with the U.S., now running a $1.6t net credit. We discuss the causes of this shift, and the opportunity to repatriate capital as part of our response to Trump, in the 'Elbows Up Factbook': www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
September 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
That's a step increase in employment of 20-30% for building trades employment. Sean Strickland from @cdntrades.bsky.social sums it up perfectly: "Canada’s transition to a cleaner economy represents one of the most significant job creation opportunities in our country’s history." #canlab /4
September 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
That's a step increase in employment of 20-30% for building trades employment. Sean Strickland from @cdntrades.bsky.social sums it up perfectly: "Canada’s transition to a cleaner economy represents one of the most significant job creation opportunities in our country’s history." #canlab /4
We estimated the job-creation spurred by 3 big categories of investment:
* Non-emitting energy production & transmission
* Energy-efficient buildings & district energy
* Sustainable transport
All told, this will produce an avg of 235-350,000 new construction jobs over 25 yrs. /3
* Non-emitting energy production & transmission
* Energy-efficient buildings & district energy
* Sustainable transport
All told, this will produce an avg of 235-350,000 new construction jobs over 25 yrs. /3
September 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
We estimated the job-creation spurred by 3 big categories of investment:
* Non-emitting energy production & transmission
* Energy-efficient buildings & district energy
* Sustainable transport
All told, this will produce an avg of 235-350,000 new construction jobs over 25 yrs. /3
* Non-emitting energy production & transmission
* Energy-efficient buildings & district energy
* Sustainable transport
All told, this will produce an avg of 235-350,000 new construction jobs over 25 yrs. /3
What a treat to spend a day in Ottawa with 40 progressive economists and thought leaders to imagine a more robust nation-building economic strategy, at the ‘Elbows Up Economic Summit’: policyalternatives.ca/news-researc.... #cdnecon /2
September 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
What a treat to spend a day in Ottawa with 40 progressive economists and thought leaders to imagine a more robust nation-building economic strategy, at the ‘Elbows Up Economic Summit’: policyalternatives.ca/news-researc.... #cdnecon /2
No mystery about what caused today's painful 2Q GDP report. If GDP declines again in 3Q, it's a recession. We'll call it the 'Trump-cession'. Exports fell 7.5% (led by falling auto exports), business M&E spending fell 9.4%. The disaster everyone predicted has started. #cdnecon /2
August 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
No mystery about what caused today's painful 2Q GDP report. If GDP declines again in 3Q, it's a recession. We'll call it the 'Trump-cession'. Exports fell 7.5% (led by falling auto exports), business M&E spending fell 9.4%. The disaster everyone predicted has started. #cdnecon /2
The Factbook reviews 15 central challenges that need to be balanced in designing Canada's response to this moment. Standing up to Trump needs us to do all of these things. Building a pipeline is no magic bullet--and would in fact move us backward on several of these challenges. /5
August 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The Factbook reviews 15 central challenges that need to be balanced in designing Canada's response to this moment. Standing up to Trump needs us to do all of these things. Building a pipeline is no magic bullet--and would in fact move us backward on several of these challenges. /5
More evidence there's no limit to Trump's goal to use tariff bullying to chip away at the sovereignty of other countries (including Canada on any issue at all: cbc.ca/news/politic.... See also his harsh tariffs on Brazil for prosecuting Trump's friend & coup schemer Bolsonaro. /2
July 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
More evidence there's no limit to Trump's goal to use tariff bullying to chip away at the sovereignty of other countries (including Canada on any issue at all: cbc.ca/news/politic.... See also his harsh tariffs on Brazil for prosecuting Trump's friend & coup schemer Bolsonaro. /2
Here is my new report for Australia's
@futurework.org.au on productivity: what it is, what it isn't, why it does NOT automatically trickle down into wages--and policies that could make productivity work for Australian workers. futurework.org.au/report/produ...
@australianunions.bsky.social
@futurework.org.au on productivity: what it is, what it isn't, why it does NOT automatically trickle down into wages--and policies that could make productivity work for Australian workers. futurework.org.au/report/produ...
@australianunions.bsky.social
July 28, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Here is my new report for Australia's
@futurework.org.au on productivity: what it is, what it isn't, why it does NOT automatically trickle down into wages--and policies that could make productivity work for Australian workers. futurework.org.au/report/produ...
@australianunions.bsky.social
@futurework.org.au on productivity: what it is, what it isn't, why it does NOT automatically trickle down into wages--and policies that could make productivity work for Australian workers. futurework.org.au/report/produ...
@australianunions.bsky.social
Canada's entire economic structure reflects 30 yrs of tariff-free North American trade. Even if nominal tariffs *seem* relatively lower, they'll hurt Canada worse. US-bound exports = 25% of Cdn GDP. Trump's tariffs would effectively equal 2-3% of our GDP, much worse than for other countries. /3
July 22, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Canada's entire economic structure reflects 30 yrs of tariff-free North American trade. Even if nominal tariffs *seem* relatively lower, they'll hurt Canada worse. US-bound exports = 25% of Cdn GDP. Trump's tariffs would effectively equal 2-3% of our GDP, much worse than for other countries. /3
Chuffed this proposal made today's @theglobeandmail.com. My organization gets a modifier ('left-of-centre') but Goldy's doesn't. What SHOULD be noted is the biggest companies affected by the DST (Amazon, Meta, Google) are BCC members, so Goldy speaks for them. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
June 28, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Chuffed this proposal made today's @theglobeandmail.com. My organization gets a modifier ('left-of-centre') but Goldy's doesn't. What SHOULD be noted is the biggest companies affected by the DST (Amazon, Meta, Google) are BCC members, so Goldy speaks for them. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Relevant for those who think Canada should give away supply management, the Digital Services Tax, and anything else Trump doesn't like, to keep him happy and get a "deal" (that he may or may not follow): Retail egg prices up 27% in Canada since Jan2021, over 300% in the US. #cdnpoli
June 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Relevant for those who think Canada should give away supply management, the Digital Services Tax, and anything else Trump doesn't like, to keep him happy and get a "deal" (that he may or may not follow): Retail egg prices up 27% in Canada since Jan2021, over 300% in the US. #cdnpoli
Trump loves to complain about merchandise trade balances. But he NEVER discusses services trade balances. Why? Cuz the US has huge advantages in services trade thanks to dominant finance, tech & consulting firms. See our
@futurework_cda
report for deets centreforfuturework.ca/wp-content/u... /3
@futurework_cda
report for deets centreforfuturework.ca/wp-content/u... /3
June 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Trump loves to complain about merchandise trade balances. But he NEVER discusses services trade balances. Why? Cuz the US has huge advantages in services trade thanks to dominant finance, tech & consulting firms. See our
@futurework_cda
report for deets centreforfuturework.ca/wp-content/u... /3
@futurework_cda
report for deets centreforfuturework.ca/wp-content/u... /3
Given such successful joint work with Canadian unions, it's surprising to see the McMaster program now recruiting students with images from a U.S. union with no presence in Canada. I sure hope Mac's labour movement history course covers why Canadian workers wanted Canadian unions🤔/5
June 25, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Given such successful joint work with Canadian unions, it's surprising to see the McMaster program now recruiting students with images from a U.S. union with no presence in Canada. I sure hope Mac's labour movement history course covers why Canadian workers wanted Canadian unions🤔/5
Fun fact: My book Economics for Everyone economicsforeveryone.ca evolved from curriculum we developed for a video version of an early CAW-McMaster course. Both courses are a great example of the lasting benefits of mutual collaboration between labour studies programs & unions. /4
June 25, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Fun fact: My book Economics for Everyone economicsforeveryone.ca evolved from curriculum we developed for a video version of an early CAW-McMaster course. Both courses are a great example of the lasting benefits of mutual collaboration between labour studies programs & unions. /4