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In her first press conference after being elected Liberal Party leader, Kathleen Wynne said social assistance reform will be among her top priorities as Premier:
“We have a social assistance system in this province that penalizes people, that does not support people getting into jobs and keeping them there, so I’m going to be looking for ways to do that because ultimately, it’s in the best interests of the economy.”
Here’s some coverage:
- http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/wynne-says-viciousness-of-legislature-must-end-1.1131465#ixzz2JIR4fO6v
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/01/27/ontario-kathleen-wynne-premier-designate.html
- http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/27/liberal-leader-kathleen-wynne-holds-press-conference
- http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/01/27/scott-stinson-ontarios-premier-to-be-kathleen-wynne-says-she-wants-to-avoid-an-election-but-do-her-opponents/
- http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/27/kathleen-wynne_n_2560602.html
- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontarios-next-premier-vows-to-work-with-opposition/article7895650/
- http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1320255–ontario-liberal-leadership-behind-the-scenes-with-kathleen-wynne
- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ontarios-wynne-must-scramble-to-deliver-substance/article7903143/
Note: For an overview of the content of the report of the Social Assistance Review Commission and an analysis of the implications of its recommendations, see our webinar here: http://sareview.ca/isac-resources/webinar-the-commissions-report-and-future-direction-for-social-assistance-reform/
Some Cabinet predictions:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/01/27/f-kathleen-wynne-change-queens-park.html
What an “unsustainable” program like ODSP looks like from the inside:
http://openpolicyontario.com/an-unsustainable-program-a-guest-blog-from-pat-capponi/
Other Big News
CCPA analysis of new Stats Can numbers shows income inequality has spiked in Canada’s big cities:
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/income-inequality-spikes-canadas-big-cities
- Infographics here: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/updates/income-inequality-rise-especially-large-cities
Video: Why Canada’s widening income gap matters:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/inside-the-market/market-view-video/video-market-view-why-canadas-widening-income-gap-is-important/article7904515/
Canada’s top 1% make 10% of the money:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/canadas-1-per-cent-accounts-for-106-per-cent-of-total-income-statscan/article7904191/
Huge protest rally targets the Liberal convention:
- http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2013/01/rally-restore-rights-and-democracy-ontario-draws-over-25000-protester
- http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/public-sector-unions-anti-poverty-activists-plan-day-135615478.html
Other Ontario
Hamilton activists / advocates call on government to reverse CSUMB elimination and give immediate $100 increase to people on social assistance:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/make-change.cfm
How people with mental health disabilities get lost in the legal system:
http://www.oyetimes.com/health/34515-how-the-mentally-disabled-are-lost-in-the-legal-system
In response to the National Post’s column on poverty in Ontario, a letter from Anita Khanna of Campaign 2000 (you have to scroll waaaaaay down past the hockey letters):
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/01/28/todays-letters-canadians-have-given-up-on-the-nhl/
Around the Province
Presentation in Renfrew County on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities:
http://www.barrysbaythisweek.com/2013/01/23/shining-a-light-on-disabilities-in-the-workforce
Across the Country
Provincial and federal cuts will close down disability organization in NFLD:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/01/24/nl-disabilities-coalition-funding-cut-124.html
National / Federal
Poll shows 56% of Canadians want change in policy on Aboriginal peoples:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/01/25/pol-nanos-first-nations-metis-inuit-poll.html
Intensify employment while you’re intensifying residential, eh big cities? says Jim Stanford:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/dont-turn-factories-into-cookie-cutter-condos/article7882707/
Canada can end chronic homelessness:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/canada-can-end-chronic-homelessness-188471241.html
How poverty influences a child’s brain development:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/science/brain/how-poverty-influences-a-childs-brain-development/article7882957/
International
New UK campaign targets hate crimes against people with disabilities:
http://www.itv.com/news/central/2013-01-25/new-disability-hate-crime-campaign-launched/
Aussie workplace relations tribunal recommends 2.9% increase to minimum wage:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/australia-panel-recommends-29-minimum-wage-hike-2012-05-31
Japan slashing welfare payments to “root out the comfortably poor”:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/01/28/national/welfare-payments-to-be-slashed-%C2%A574-billion-to-root-out-the-comfortably-poor/
