This week, the Front and Center series looked at how workers in the Great Lakes region have been weathering the recession. Brian Mann of North Country Public Radio has been traveling in Ontario, comparing the lot of Canadians and Americans. One of the biggest differences he observed was in government jobs. This week the New York Times reported deep cuts to the public sector in the U.S. That trend hit black communities in cities from Chicago to Cleveland particularly hard. However, big government cut backs had not yet taken place north of the border.

Follow Brian Mann’s road trip:

• Workers in U.S. vs. Canada
• Comparing social safety nets
• Government jobs on both sides of the border