Media & Policy News: 31 January 2014

Top Stories

1) The minimum wage in Ontario. There’s far too much coverage to list it all here, but here are a few highlights

The Ontario government’s announcement – an increase to $11 in June and legislation to index to inflation:
http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2014/01/ontario-increasing-minimum-wage.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p

Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage says indexing is good, but addressing wage poverty is the real issue:
http://raisetheminimumwage.ca/updates/press-release-workers-say-annual-indexation-on-minimum-wage-is-a-needed-first-step-but-falls-far-short-of-whats-required/

Raising the minimum wage could rescue the economy:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/raising-minimum-wage-could-rescue-the-economy-don-pittis-1.2516796?cmp=rss

Inflationary increase keeps minimum wage workers stuck in poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/01/27/longawaited_report_on_minimum_wage_increases_does_little_to_help_the_working_poor_editorial.html

Yakabuski: The poor will pay for a minimum wage increase:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/who-pays-for-minimum-wage-hikes-the-poor/article16603374/#dashboard/follows/

But, said Andrew Jackson back in March, that’s really not the case:
https://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/en/blog/minimum-wage-hikes-benefits-offset-costs

Thornhill PC candidate’s take – there’s no minimum wage workers in her riding:
http://m.yorkregion.com/news-story/4338455-no-adults-on-minimum-wage-in-thornhill-says-martow/

Fiorito: Six bits isn’t going to make a difference:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/01/31/minimum_wage_maximum_absurdity_fiorito.html

What they’re saying in Peterborough:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2014/01/28/mixed-reaction-locally-to-minimum-wage-tied-to-inflation

And in Sault Ste. Marie:
http://www.saultstar.com/2014/01/29/sault-chamber-president-says-effort-should-be-focused-on-business-growth-rather-than-minimum-wage

Letter to the Premier on health benefits of hiking minimum wage above poverty:
http://accessalliance.ca/content/letter-premier-1

Why $14 an hour could put the Premier on the right side of history:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/trish-hennessy/2014/01/14-minimum-wage-could-put-ontario-on-right-side-history

2) Income Splitting: Who Benefits?

The CCPA released a report showing that the federal government’s plan to introduce income splitting would benefit the rich the most, while middle income and poorer Canadians would see virtually no benefit.

Report here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/income-splitting-canada

Star – Income splitting would make inequality worse:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/28/harper_governments_incomesplitting_plan_would_favour_rich_tax_study_finds.html
CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/income-splitting-aids-wealthiest-families-most-says-study-1.2513255
National Newswatch: http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2014/01/29/a-fancy-way-for-the-rich-to-skin-the-poor/

3) It’s Corporate Tax Freedom Day!

By the end of January, Canadian corporations have paid their entire share of taxes to all levels of government in Canada.

What have corporate tax cuts delivered for Canadians?
http://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/publications/what-did-corporate-tax-cuts-deliver-background-report-corporate-tax-freedom-d

The CLC’s Ken Georgetti explains:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ken-georgetti/corporate-tax_b_4689377.html

Ontario

New project to improve health care treatment for people with mental health issues:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/60-million-slated-for-newly-created-psychiatry-alliance/article16542521/#dashboard/follows/

New poll shows Liberals leading, but would only form a minority:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/new-poll-has-wynnes-liberals-leading-but-still-looking-at-minority/article16601522/#dashboard/follows/

Ontario Health Minister says feds cut to refugee health more expensive in long run:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cutting-health-care-for-refugee-claimants-expensive-in-long-run-ont-health-minister-says/

Around the Province

Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty disrupts council meeting over shelter services:

City of Toronto’s new Guide to Services for People who are Homeless:
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=6300ee5c3ed91410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=cfa2d62869211410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

Immigrant workers not paid their below minimum wages go after Toronto employer with legal clinic’s help:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/01/31/chinese_immigrants_go_after_restaurant_chain_for_owed_wages.html

Across the Country

Saskatchewan citizens’ billboard calls for corporation to pay taxes owed:

National

CBC Aboriginal: What it takes for aboriginal people to make the news:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/what-it-takes-for-aboriginal-people-to-make-the-news-1.2514466?cmp=rss

Proposed federal balanced budget laws aren’t what Canada needs:
https://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/en/blog/canada-needs-sound-fiscal-thinking-not-balanced-budget-laws

Federal budget could tighten tax loopholes:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1703259

International

Seattle socialist council member will take only average worker’s wage:
http://www.socialistalternative.org/2014/01/29/sawant-affirms-election-pledge-accepting-average-workers-wage/

Prosecutors in the UK drop case against men caught stealing discarded food:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/29/prosecutors-drop-case-men-food-iceland-bins