Top Stories
CCPA report: Canada’s top CEOs earn 171 times the average industrial wage:
http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/01/01/top_100_ceos_earned_79_million_on_average_report_says.html
- Toronto Star editorial: No restraint at the top:http://www.thestar.com/opinion/2014/01/02/good_times_at_the_top_of_the_ceo_heap_editorial.html
Government statement on annual Poverty Reduction Strategy report December 16:
http://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2013/12/statement-from-minister-of-children-and-youth-services-2013-annual-report-on-ontarios-poverty-reduct.html
- Report and overview of five-year accomplishments are here:http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/breakingthecycle/report/2013/index.aspx
To eliminate poverty in Canada, we need a dedicated plan:
http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/4298085-the-elimination-of-poverty-requires-a-dedicated-plan/
Dennis Raphael: Child poverty is a problem of family poverty, and what to do about it:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4299112-the-issue-is-not-poor-children-but-family-poverty/
The need for income security solutions was 2013’s theme:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4300677-a-poverty-resolution-for-the-new-year/
Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs hosting 2014 Pre-Budget Consultations across Ontario in coming two weeks:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/committee-proceedings/committee-hearings-notices/files_html/Pre-budget%20EN.htm
Speculation that Andrea Horwath could win the next provincial election, expected this spring:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4292351-horwath-could-be-ontario-s-first-elected-female-premier
Hennessy’s Index for January 2014 – some words that should be banished:
http://policyalternatives.ca/publications/facts-infographics/hennessys-index-january-2014
Around the Province
Durham man sees benefit of community reaching out to help:
http://www.thepost.on.ca/2013/12/28/people-rally-to-john-mrkics-aid
Latest $14 minimum wage actions – December 14:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=0eafe88e10&e=462e04a60b
John Stapleton on Henry Ford’s 1914 114% increase to the minimum wage:
http://openpolicyontario.com/raise-the-minimum-wage-to-21-90-an-hour-just-like-100-years-ago/
On OCAP’s two campaigns:
http://socialistaction.ca/2014/01/01/ocap-says-no-to-welfare-mergercuts/
Across the Country
Does creating a “social mix” in poor neighbourhoods actually benefit the people who are poor?
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Mixed+neighbourhoods+always+good+idea/9344177/story.html
Speaking out against EI changes in Newfoundland and Labrador:
http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2013-12-30/article-3560327/Some-fishing-EI-recipients-had-payments-reassessed-before-Christmas/1
From Medicine Hat, calls for reforming the Canada Pension Plan:
http://medicinehatnews.com/commentary/opinions/2013/12/canada-pension-plan-in-desperate-need-of-reform/
National
Despite commitments to track down tax evaders and that “not one audit position will be eliminated”, feds are cutting auditors:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/collection+agency+auditors/9345818/story.html
Canadian lawyers say new refugee system is deeply flawed:
http://www.carl-acaadr.ca/articles/59
Canadian Bar Association rolls out access to justice strategy:
http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/legalfeeds/1841/cba-rolls-out-strategy-to-improve-access-to-justice.html
Study on perceptions of people with disabilities and the workplace:
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/12/22/workplace-study-exposes-difficulties-faced-by-disabled-workers
CCPA’s Bruce Campbell reflects on the “tarnished” 25th anniversary of NAFTA:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/12/30/free_trades_tarnished_silver_anniversary.html
Poverty costs Canada billions – no matter who’s paying to feed whose children:
https://www.hilltimes.com/opinion-piece/2013/12/17/poverty-costs-canada-billions-of-dollars-every-year/36995
- Jian Ghomeshi on federal Minister James Moore’s comments:http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2013/12/17/child-poverty-canada/
- James Moore’s apology: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/industry-minister-regrets-insensitive-comment-on-hungry-children/article15990980/
New foreign worker rules drop the promised ban on allowing employers with criminal convictions to hire:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawas-new-foreign-worker-rules-drop-ban-on-employers-with-criminal-convictions/article16182157/
- Additional criticism of the new rules: http://www.brandonsun.com/breaking-news/tory-rules-on-hiring-foreign-workers-hit-238687441.html?thx=y
Expanding CPP is an idea whose time has come:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Expanding+idea+whose+time+come/9349205/story.html
Index shows defined benefit pension funds nearly back to fully funded status:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/db/funded-status-of-plans-reaches-12-year-high-47997
New computer system for EI scheduled for 2016:
http://o.canada.com/news/national/feds-left-with-little-room-for-error-with-new-ei-computer-system-set-for-2016-launch/
International
New York’s new Mayor Bill de Blasio commits to specific progressive action in his inauguration speech to see “an end to economic and social inequalities”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/nyregion/complete-text-of-bill-de-blasios-inauguration-speech.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0
2014 was the year of the Great Redistribution (but not the one you might think):
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/279-82/21352-the-year-of-the-great-redistribution
US Federal judge rules Florida drug testing of welfare recipients unconstitutional; state to appeal:
http://members.jacksonville.com/news/florida/2013-12-31/story/federal-judge-rules-drug-testing-welfare-recipients-unconstitutional
50 years later, the US War on Poverty is a mixed bag:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/business/50-years-later-war-on-poverty-is-a-mixed-bag.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20140105&_r=1&
But some believe it’s important to talk about its success:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/01/06/marco-rubio-is-wrong-the-war-on-poverty-worked.html
Addressing poverty through promoting marriage hasn’t seemed to work:
http://phys.org/news/2014-01-marriage-stem-poverty-moms.html
But without government programs, the poverty rate would be twice as high:
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/01/05/3120481/poverty-rate-high-government-programs/
Meanwhile, US Democrats intend to make poverty and inequality an election issue:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/02/senate-democrats-bill-reinstate-unemployment-benefits
Webinar on the surveillance of people living in poverty in the USA:
http://www.newamerica.net/events/2013/in_poverty_under_surveillance
Mum forced to pay “Bedroom Tax” on sensory room for disabled daughter:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/bedroom-tax-dawn-lennon-must-2979313
In the UK, local Hardship Fund is axed while government urges loans instead:
http://rt.com/news/uk-welfare-local-families-161/
Poverty in Italy reaches record levels:
http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/economics/2013/12/30/Italy-Poverty-hits-record-high-amid-recession_9837697.html
Hidden poverty: The well people of Beijing:
http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/hidden-poverty-the-well-people-of-beijing/beijing-cavemen-slums-urbanizaton/c3s14524/
Combating poverty in Guatemala – with red wigglers:
http://www.ticotimes.net/More-news/News-Briefs/Fighting-poverty-with-90-million-California-red-worms_Sunday-January-05-2014
