Does this look like the
Does this look like the This article is more than 10 years old

Does this look like the “middle ground”?

For those fighting for retirement security, fair wages and collective bargaining rights, it might come as a surprise that one of their most vocal opponents sees itself as advocating for the “middle ground.” That’s right: the executive vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the role of the organisation is “standing tall for […]

For those fighting for retirement security, fair wages and collective bargaining rights, it might come as a surprise that one of their most vocal opponents sees itself as advocating for the “middle ground.”

That’s right: the executive vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the role of the organisation is “standing tall for the middle ground.” Laura Jones admits that the CFIB often holds the same positions as the Fraser Institute, a conservative think tank where she used to work, but the business group doesn’t have the same branding problem.

“It makes me laugh how often I will take a position from the CFIB podium that is exactly the same as the Fraser Institute… and most people see it as reasonable,” Jones told the Vancouver Sun in a recent profile.

Is this just a trick to cast the right-wing business organisation as “middle ground” so its positions sound, well, reasonable? Or maybe it’s about trying to shift the “middle” to the right.

Either way, check out these “middle ground” positions staked out the CFIB, as pitched by their executives on Twitter.

http://storify.com/PressProgress/does-this-look-like-the-middle-ground/embed?header=false

Photo: satosphere. Used under a Creative Commons BY-ND 2.0 licence.

Our journalism is powered by readers like you.

We’re an award-winning non-profit news organization that covers topics like social and economic inequality, big business and labour, and right-wing extremism.

Help us build so we can bring to light stories that don’t get the attention they deserve from Canada’s big corporate media outlets.

 

Donate
PressProgress
PressProgress is an award-winning non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.

Most Shared

South Asian Studies Institute NEWS

Take Back Alberta Leaders are Training ‘Scrutineers’ to Infiltrate Campaigns and Act as ‘Security’ on Voting Day

Related Stories

NEWS

“Where is Our Museum?” asks Punjabi and broader South Asian Canadian community in BC

View the post
NEWS

Toronto Police Arrested A Striking Worker At York University. Labour Experts Are Concerned Police Infringed on Charter Rights.

View the post
NEWS

Take Back Alberta Founder Vows to Fight Election Watchdog’s Investigation Into Donors

View the post
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism directly to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.