Monthly Archives: September 2014

This article discusses the recession and how it still effects the 8.7 million people who lost their jobs. As the market is slowly recovering, the jobs available have altered. Instead of the long-term, beneficial, financially stable, full-time jobs, only part-time positions are now available.

The recession helped reconstruct companies and lower employment costs. With the high demand for employment following the huge layoffs, businesses eliminated their full-time positions hired cheaper labour: part-time employees with short hours and a high turnover. With these new employees companies are no longer forced to provide benefits, offer raises, or even pay for lunch breaks. These changes primarily affect those who lost their jobs and are now unable to find full-time positions. They are unable to find wages high enough to support themselves or even their families. Furthermore, companies are neglecting the fact that these changes in employment will also negatively impact them. Part-time, high turnover employees are unmotivated in investing time in the company. They are uninterested in being innovative and solving problems and therefore are not as valuable.

Though hiring part-time workers may be an immediate solution to the recession, it should not be a permanent one. Companies are unaware that workers are important assets. Businesses should see value in hiring well-qualified and driven full-time employees that will contribute to the companies’ success.

This article discusses the unemployment rates among youth. Post-secondary education is now a requirement for most careers, hence more students are attending some sort of post-secondary institution. With the growing number of graduates there simply are not enough job opportunities, and students are being forced to settle for jobs that they are simply qualified for.

This article also states that universities are responsible for the unemployment among youth as they are focused on the education and not students’ future employment. They also claim that universities’ statistics on graduate employment are often misleading. I feel as though universities are actually helping students by providing them with co-ops, internships and support programs that gain them work experience. Students who take advantage of these opportunities are set apart from other graduates who are entering the work force. Though this article did raise a good point that education isn’t simply enough, it also argued that student’s expectations are too high. They stated that finding a “dream job” is simply unrealistic. I believe that this is not the case. People should continue to strive to find a career that they enjoy and are passionate about. Though this may take extra time or work it is the rest of your future and it does affect overall happiness.

Canada housing sales have risen another 1.8% in August. Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver are the cities facing the largest growth. The problem with this increase in price is that it is not matching the growth of wages, nor inflation. In Vancouver, the increase in housing costs has been problematic for years. Locals have been trying to keep up with the rising prices of their homes, leading them to fall into debt. These people are then being forced to move outside of neighborhoods that they have lived in for decades.

Contrary to popular belief, this article proves the housing market boom is not actually affecting all areas of Canada; there are many cities that are instead facing a drop in prices. This makes it challenging for policy makers to regulate both situations. Since prices are going up, mortgage companies should be making harsher regulations to impede citizens to buy homes well out of their price range. However, mortgage companies are hesitant, as it would negatively affect areas, where prices are already decreasing.

Even with the price decrease in some regions, mortgage companies should make harsher policies. Wall Street Journal explained, “The ratio of household credit market debt to personal disposable income rose to 163.60%.” Canadian’s household debt is much higher than they can afford. With harsher regulations in place, it would help Canadians make more intelligent decisions regarding the purchase of homes.

This article discusses CVS, America’s largest drug store chain, has chosen to stop selling any tobacco related products. Though their action will not impact tobacco sales as a whole, it will encourage other companies to follow suit. Walgreens has been assessing the controversial topic, but has decided to continue selling tobacco while educating customers about the dangers of smoking and creating alternatives. Customers are starting to pay close attention to company ethics. Though companies’ changes may initially cause them to loose revenue (as CVS is loosing $2 billion), their responsible choice will make customers more trusting of the company and inclined to buy their products. Being socially responsible could almost be thought as a marketing technique. Furthermore, many municipalities have created laws preventing the sale of tobacco within pharmacies or drugstores. Municipalities believe that cigarettes should not be sold in an environment that is providing health care, especially if many of the sicknesses are directly linked to tobacco. In this circumstance, government intervention is assisting citizens in making healthy choices and creating a positive impact. With cigarettes more difficult to purchase, I believe that the tobacco use will naturally decrease, improving the health of citizens.