Top Stories
Star op-ed by Leilani Farha: Poverty is “a structural issue, which cannot be solved by individuals alone, but also requires substantive government involvement, resources, vision and leadership.”
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/07/12/can_kathleen_wynne_change_the_conversation_on_poverty.html
Star editorial: Wynne’s pledge to tackle poverty needs fleshing out:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/07/11/kathleen_wynnes_pledge_to_tackle_poverty_needs_fleshing_out_editorial.html
- John Cartwright, on other ways to reduce poverty – reducing the number of people earning poverty wages:http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2014/07/15/other_ideas_on_how_to_tackle_poverty.html
Generating additional revenue and big movement on poverty reduction might be possible under Wynne:
http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/07/14/social_advocates_eye_higher_taxes_down_the_road.html
- Canadians for Tax Fairness on how Budget 2014 makes the tax system fairer: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4633000-budget-offers-fairer-tax-system/
Budget Responses & Coverage
OFL welcomes the Budget but rejects privatization and cuts:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2052933
25in5 says Budget invests in fairness and builds momentum for the upcoming second Poverty Reduction Strategy:
http://25in5.ca/ontario-budget-2014-invests-in-fairness-builds-momentum-for-the-next-poverty-reduction-strategy/
Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries says the 2014 Budget doesn’t do enough for people living in poverty:
www.therecord.com/news-story/4631548-provincial-budget-doesn-t-offer-enough-support-to-the-poor-social-planning-council/
ISAC repeats Budget analysis but adds comment on increased funding for ODSP medical reviews:
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf90&id=fc23603396
- More on medical reviews here: http://toronto.mediacoop.ca/story/systemic-shortcomings-odsp-review-process-could-sp/31167
Criminal Lawyers Association applauds more funding for Legal Aid:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2053112
Globe editorial on the 2014 Budget as an austerity budget:
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/ontarios-budget-on-second-thought-this-might-hurt/article19607475/?service=mobile
- ROB column: Only higher taxes will cure Ontario’s fiscal ills: http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/rob-insight/only-higher-taxes-will-cure-ontarios-fiscal-ills/article19600295/?service=mobile
Ontario
Walkom: Wynne should choose growth over austerity:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/07/04/kathleen_wynne_should_choose_growth_over_austerity_walkom.html
PCs appoint new critics:
- Jim McDonell for Ministry of Children and Youth Services and Poverty Reduction: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2014/07/07/sdsg-mpp-mcdonell-given-new-critic-role-n-ontario-legislature
- Bill Walker for Ministry of Community and Social Services: http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/4626506-bruce-grey-mpp-walker-accepts-new-critic-appointments/
Around the Province
Advocates push back against targeting the poor in downtown Hamilton:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/don-t-crackdown-on-the-poor-in-hamilton-s-core-poverty-advocates-1.2698674
Health – and its relationship to wealth – in Ottawa:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/health-and-wealth-in-the-city-of-ottawa
Toronto WheelTrans drivers strike over reduced pay:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/07/08/wheeltrans_taxi_drivers_strike_over_wage_cuts.html
Toronto Council votes to study discount fare for low-income riders:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/07/08/toronto_to_study_ttc_fare_discount_for_lowincome_riders.html
Two men die at Toronto’s Seaton House shelter:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/johnbon/2014/07/two-men-die-seaton-house-mens-shelter#.U71BjOpC2WE.twitter
Report from Bridges Community Health Centre gives recommendation for action on dental coverage:
http://www.bridgeschc.ca/media/pdf/Dental_Health_Report_Bridges_Community_Health_Centre_June_2014.pdf
Study shows poverty among urban Aboriginal people in Hamilton in a major barrier to good health:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/poverty-a-major-barrier-to-good-health-for-urban-aboriginals-study-1.2701497?cmp=abfb
- More coverage: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4623522-poverty-and-chronic-disease-plaguing-hamilton-s-aboriginal-population/
Older women in St. Catherines facing life on social assistance:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2014/07/02/poverty-older-women-face-life-on-assistance
Poverty in Muskoka, and one woman’s success story:
http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/4624435-overcoming-poverty-a-muskoka-success-story/
New services to help low-income families separate will be a big help in northwestern Ontario:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/low-income-ontario-couples-to-get-legal-help-with-separating-1.2700862
Coupons for farmers markets available to low-income seniors in Ontario County:
http://www.mpnnow.com/article/20140710/NEWS/140719967/1994/NEWS
Across the Country
PEI’s Finance Minister has abandoned Ontario’s pension push and refocuses on Ottawa:
http://www.troymedia.com/2014/07/13/pei-finance-minister-changes-mind-on-pensions/
TD says the jobs picture everywhere east of Manitoba will remain bleak:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/unemployment-to-remain-ugly-everywhere-east-of-manitoba/article19504141/?click=sf_globefb
Opposition Private Members Bill to create a Poverty Reduction Strategy for BC needs all-party support:
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/opinion/columnists/article_4db95e1a-06fd-11e4-83c7-001a4bcf6878.html
National
Appeals on denials of federal disability benefits are increasingly unsuccessful:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/fewer-claimants-successful-when-appealing-disability-benefit-denials/article19501881/
The federal government is moving to direct deposit for ALL federal payments:
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/direct-deposit/
- John Stapleton comments on direct deposits in this article:http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2014/07/06/financial_literacy_leader_focuses_on_seniors_roseman.html
- But the feds are also considering pre-paid cards for those who don’t sign up:
- http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Feds+examine+prepaid+cards+alternative+cheques/10016425/story.html
Ottawa’s overhaul of the Temporary Foreign Worker program ignores abuse of migrant workers:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/07/02/ottawas_overhaul_ignores_abuse_of_migrant_workers.html
- And Temporary Foreign Worker program changes could penalize workers:http://www.montrealgazette.com/life/Changes+rules+foreign+workers+could+penalize+labourers+rights+group+says/10029821/story.html
- Who do the changes really help? http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/policynote/2014/07/temporary-foreign-worker-program-changes-who-do-they-help
Canadian Taxpayers Federation says it’s not the TFW program that’s the problem – it’s Employment Insurance paying people not to work:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/64397
- More coverage: http://www.nanaimodailynews.com/ei-may-be-opening-door-to-foreign-workers-1.1198895
- And more: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2014/7/12/Does-temporary-foreign-worker-program-mask-EI-overuse.aspx
- CFIB gets in on the action: http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2014-07-10/article-3793983/Reform-EI,-not-temporary-foreign-worker-program,-says-business-leader/1
Food banks in Canada are vital but could work better:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4629938-vital-food-banks-can-work-better/
Press Progress’ take on the OECD’s income inequality warning for Canada:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/oecds-dire-warning-canada-income-inequality-will-get-lot-worse
International
23.1% of Americans – the highest percentage ever – are now receiving welfare program benefits:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/07/percentage_of_americans_on_welfare_hits_record_levels.html
A simplified way to tax multinational corporations:
http://billmoyers.com/2014/07/15/a-simplified-way-to-tax-multinational-corporations/
Both red and blue states in the USA agree on taxing corporations more:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/red-and-blue-states-agree-on-taxing-corporations-more?utm_source=YTW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20140711
The European Central Bank finds that the 1% are even richer than we thought:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-15/top-1-percent-is-even-richer-than-surveys-say-ecb-paper-finds.html
