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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee
@marclee.bsky.social
1.3K followers 270 following 57 posts
Economist, talking head, Vancouver.
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readerofbannedbook.bsky.social
Reader of Banned Books @readerofbannedbook.bsky.social · 3d
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Reposted by Marc Lee
ershaker.bsky.social
Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · 23d
www.kamloopsbcnow.com/watercooler/... “It’s not just handing out cheques…it’s providing services that improve our economy & our quality of life. It’s one of the core ways that we stabilize relative to the swings, the booms & busts of the overall economy” @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
Are BC's striking workers winning in their struggle against the government?
More than three weeks after the BC General Employees’ Union went on strike, the number of workers on picket lines continues to increase without.
www.kamloopsbcnow.com
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · 25d
Senior economist @marclee.bsky.social
said he's "skeptical" of the government's claims about relying on attrition to shrink the public service" [by 57,00 jobs]. "If they want to meet that target, something's got to give at the end of the day," he said. www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/car...
Carney's pledge to trim public service through attrition is 'misleading': union
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney's promise to cut the public service through attrition is "misleading" and "reckless," says the head of a federal union.
www.thecanadianpressnews.ca
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · 26d
Got the last word in this update on the BC public sector workers strike: “There’s been a little bit too much of the punditry setting their hair on fire around the deficit"
thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...
Are Striking Workers Putting Enough Pressure on BC’s Government? | The Tyee
Alcohol and cannabis distribution workers walked off the job Tuesday as the BCGEU strike entered its fourth week.
thetyee.ca
marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 10
BC nurses on climate and health: "We are health care workers. We’re already seeing the impacts of climate inaction" www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
We are health care workers. We’re already seeing the impacts of climate inaction - CCPA
The summer of 2025 will be remembered in Canada as the year that wildfires threatened our health and our homes, from coast to coast to coast, from Northwest Territories to Nova Scotia, from Manitoba t...
www.policyalternatives.ca
marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 8
My @ccpa colleagues and I preview the fall parliamentary session: www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The fall parliamentary session is going to be one to watch - CCPA
When parliament comes back into session on September 15, the newly elected federal government is going to try to move swiftly to pass its legislative agenda. With a minority parliament, the governing ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · Sep 4
Rents in Canada remain unaffordable for low-to-moderate income households, costing in some cities more than what two people, making minimum wage, can earn together. New report by @marclee.bsky.social + @davidmaccdn.bsky.social breaks down the issue. #canlab
www.policyalternatives.ca
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 4
In the short term, we expect rents to ease due to reduced population growth and new rental and condo supply under construction. But the gap is still huge for most ordinary households. Higher minimum wages are needed but also fed/prov initiatives to build non-market housing
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 4
We also look at Statscan data on asking rents for unoccupied units -- that is, what you'd need to pay if looking for a pad next month. These rental wages run even higher, like >$40 per hour for Toronto and Vancouver
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 4
We use a standard affordability benchmark of max 30% of income spent on rent. Otherwise people will need to cut into other spending, live in smaller digs or get a roommate. The key is the link between local wages and housing costs, esp for low to middle income earners
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 4
We also compare the rental wage to the minimum wage. In only 8 cities (6 in Quebec) could you afford a 1-BR while working full-year full-time at minimum wage. In Toronto and Vancouver you need >2 min wage jobs for a 1-BR
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Sep 4
Our latest looks at housing affordability by calculating the "rental wage" or hourly wage one needs to afford a 1 or 2-BR apartment in different Cdn cities. Detailed tables available in the update and a map tool that drills down to the neighbourhood level
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Making Rent: The CCPA’s rental wage update 2024 - CCPA
It’s almost cliche to say that the high cost of housing is at the heart of Canada’s affordability crisis. Although much media attention is placed on the home ownership market, for the one-third of hou...
www.policyalternatives.ca
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · Aug 28
"Reducing internal trade barriers will help, but as recent CIBC and @policyalternatives.ca reports highlighted, the impact will be far less than what was hyped in Throne Speech – yet another instance of a government inflating the numbers." @marclee.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: Carney promised to bring down the cost of living. Can he really do it?
Improving productivity or raising workers’ bargaining power, not lowering prices, will make things more affordable
www.theglobeandmail.com
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · Aug 27
“We never used to tolerate such high levels of compensation and inequality,” @marclee.bsky.social said. “Now we do. We’ve just been beaten over the head with it for a number of years.” @policyalternatives.ca #inequality www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com/national-new...
Statistics Canada numbers say wealth gap getting bigger
Bottom 40 per cent of Canadians combined for 17.2 per cent of national income
www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · Aug 25
Prime Minister Carney just announced he was removing some Canadian counter-tariffs against the U.S. What’s happening in the Canada-U.S. trade dispute, and what comes next? By @marclee.bsky.social and @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social director Stuart Trew #cdnpoli www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Elbows up, or bend the knee? - CCPA
International political discourse in 2025 has been haunted by the spectre of Donald Trump and his brute force reshaping of global trade relationships to the (perceived) advantage of the United States....
www.policyalternatives.ca
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Aug 25
New from Stuart Trew and I: a long read on state of play of Canada-US trade, including a review of the various tariffs to date, an analysis of impacts on Canada's exports, a review of the "deals" Trump has negotiated, and what's on the table for Canada. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Elbows up, or bend the knee? - CCPA
International political discourse in 2025 has been haunted by the spectre of Donald Trump and his brute force reshaping of global trade relationships to the (perceived) advantage of the United States....
www.policyalternatives.ca
marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Aug 20
The @ccpa is happy to join with 33 organizations from across the province are calling on #BCgov to take stronger action to reduce #climate pollution – after a groundbreaking opinion from the world's top court. ⚖️
Read the letter 👉 wcel.org/ICJforBC
Open Letter: Implications of International Court of Justice Opinion for BC | West Coast Environmental Law
In July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a ground-breaking advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change – finding that governments have a legal duty ...
wcel.org
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Aug 7
I'm quoted in this great article by @StefanLabbe on how extreme weather driven by climate change is affecting large scale sporting events and festivals. www.biv.com/news/hospita... via @BIVnews
Climate change is cancelling events, with Canadian sports among hardest hit, finds global study
New research shows extreme weather is increasingly cancelling festivals and sports, with Canada among the hardest-hit nations over two decades
www.biv.com
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Reposted by Marc Lee
jimbostanford.bsky.social
Jim Stanford @jimbostanford.bsky.social · Jul 22
With Aug.1 looming, so important for Canadian negotiators to stay firm. A bad deal with Trump (with tariffs that would hit Canada harder than almost any other country) is worse than no deal at all. See our Centre for Future Work Cda report: centreforfuturework.ca/2025/07/22/a... #cdneon #canlab /2
A Bad Deal with Trump is Worse than No Deal at All - Centre for Future Work
Trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. are continuing, as the revised August 1 deadline approaches. Reports indicate that despite Canadian concessions (on border security, defense spending, an...
centreforfuturework.ca
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Reposted by Marc Lee
ericdoherty.bsky.social
Eric Doherty @ericdoherty.bsky.social · Jul 19
"In 2022, the amount of gasoline sold in B.C. was not much different than in 2007, the year B.C. first legislated greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction targets. Diesel sales have grown in recent years" @marclee.bsky.social #cleanbc #bcpoli
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ershaker.bsky.social
Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · Jul 16
'In spite of LNG development, B.C. can continue to make systemic changes in domestic transportation, buildings and industry, while using decarbonization to anchor new green industrial policies.' -- @marclee.bsky.social @policyalternatives.ca
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · Jul 16
New from @policyalternatives.ca A roadmap for renewing CleanBC—and the climate transition in British Columbia. By @marclee.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Climate policy at B.C.’s carbon crossroads: 10 steps for CleanBC renewal - CCPA
The end of 2025 will mark a decade since the Paris Agreement on climate change was negotiated. This review of the CleanBC plan is occurring in a different world. Even as the impacts of climate change ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
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marclee.bsky.social
Marc Lee @marclee.bsky.social · Jul 16
My submission to the CleanBC review features ten big steps to get BC moving in the right direction on climate and energy:
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Climate policy at B.C.’s carbon crossroads: 10 steps for CleanBC renewal - CCPA
The end of 2025 will mark a decade since the Paris Agreement on climate change was negotiated. This review of the CleanBC plan is occurring in a different world. Even as the impacts of climate change ...
www.policyalternatives.ca
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Reposted by Marc Lee
policyalternatives.ca
CCPA — Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives @policyalternatives.ca · Jul 11
ICYMI: Cost of internal trade barriers vastly overstated:
@marclee.bsky.social, Senior Economist with @policyalternatives.ca, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the impact of interprovincial trade barriers. #cdnecon #cdnpoli www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/shows/...
- BNN Bloomberg
Marc Lee, Senior Economist at Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss the impact of interprovincial trade barriers.
www.bnnbloomberg.ca
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Reposted by Marc Lee
ershaker.bsky.social
Erika Shaker @ershaker.bsky.social · Jul 8
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc... ‘In reality, the alleged costs of interprovincial trade irritants have been vastly overstated, as virtually all goods, services and investment flows freely across provincial borders.’ @policyalternatives.ca @marclee.bsky.social @ccpa-tirp.bsky.social
The premiers’ new clothes: A critical look at the race to remove interprovincial trade barriers - CCPA
The costs of interprovincial trade barriers have been vastly overstated, while the rush to remove them risks a race to the bottom in areas like health and workplace safety
www.policyalternatives.ca
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