Top Stories
Housing
- New tax, rent controls part of Wynne’s plan to protect tenants and homebuyers: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/04/20/wynne-unveils-plan-to-protect-tenants-and-homebuyers.html
- “We know we have a problem”: Ontario lays out measures to curb high rents, home prices:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/wynne-housing-market-1.4077094 - Ontario’s rent and housing reform: 16 big changes, explained in charts:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/toronto/ontario-housing-16-big-changes-explained-in-charts/article34757648/ - Read Ontario’s 16-point plan to cool Toronto and the GGH region’s red-hot housing market: http://business.financialpost.com/news/property-post/ontarios-16-point-plan-to-cool-torontos-red-hot-housing-market
- Bye bye 1991 loophole – rent control to expand to all rental units in Ontario: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rent-byebye-1991-loophole-1.4077446
- Tenant advocates welcome plan to curb rent increases: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/20/tenant-advocates-welcome-plan-to-curb-rent-increases.html
- News Release: Making Housing More Affordable:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/04/making-housing-more-affordable.html - Backgrounder: Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan:
https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2017/04/ontarios-fair-housing-plan.html - Housing is a human right, not a commodity:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/if-housing-was-a-human-right-the-bubbles-would-burst/article34492283/ - Why this Toronto man would rather be homeless than live in an appalling apartment:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/10/why-this-man-would-rather-be-homeless-than-live-in-appalling-apartment.html
Basic Income
- Ontario embraces no-strings-attached basic income experiment: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/18/ontario-embraces-no-strings-attached-basic-income-experiment.html
- Toronto residents pin hopes on basic income:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/18/toronto-residents-pin-hopes-on-basic-income.html - A guaranteed basic income? Humbug!:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/14/a-guaranteed-basic-income-humbug-salutin.html - A short history of the poverty-busting power of basic income: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/18/a-short-history-of-the-poverty-busting-power-of-basic-income.html
- Audio: April 13 Debate on Basic Income – A way forward for the left? http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/needs-no-introduction/2017/04/universal-basic-income-yea-or-nay
- Trick, or new hope? Toronto activists are split on basic income pilot: https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7249335-trick-or-new-hope-toronto-activists-are-split-on-basic-income-pilot/
- The Basic Income debate: http://rankandfile.ca/2017/04/19/the-basic-income-debate/
- Basic Income is no silver bullet, but it may still save us: http://torontoist.com/2017/04/basic-income-no-silver-bullet-may-still-save-us/
- Star Editorial: Don’t make basic income an excuse for inaction: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/04/18/dont-make-basic-income-an-excuse-for-inaction-editorial.html
- Op-Ed: Benefits of basic income will be felt by everyone: http://www.lfpress.com/2017/04/14/baranyai-benefits-of-basic-income-will-be-felt-by-everyone
- Op-Ed: Guaranteed income won’t help women: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/20/guaranteed-income-wont-help-women-opinion.html
- Commentary: The problem(s) with a guaranteed annual income: http://globalnews.ca/news/3388252/commentary-the-problems-with-a-guaranteed-annual-income/
Social Assistance
- Parents won’t have social assistance slashed if kids placed in temporary care: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/11/star-gets-action-parents-wont-have-social-assistance-slashed-if-kids-placed-in-temporary-care.html
- How Ontario traps those with disabilities in lives of poverty:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/04/15/how-ontario-traps-those-with-disabilities-in-lives-of-poverty.html - City of Thunder Bay to lobby province for $1 billion increase to social assistance:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/city-lobbies-for-1-billion-social-assistance-increase-586374 - Note: ISAC’s pre-budget submission: $1 billion for OW and ODSP: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/1-billion-for-ow-odsp-isacs-2017-pre-budget-submission-1-milliard-de-dollars-pour-ot-le-posph-soumission-prebudgetaire-2017-du-casr/
Employment Standards and Good Jobs
- Hard at Work: Why this city employee says years of contract work led to her mental breakdown:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/city-of-toronto-worker-mental-breakdown-1.4064135 - Poll shows 70% of Torontonians support a $15 minimum wage:
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/poll-majority-of-torontonians-support-15-minimum-wage-1.3365263#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=ok6kabD - New motion proposes stronger protections for temp agency workers: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/13/new-bill-proposes-stronger-protections-for-temp-agency-workers.html
- Precarious workers need protection now: http://startouch.thestar.com/screens/3d47669c-ad60-4ed5-8014-77e7fc00c552%7C_0.html
- Workers Action Centre update:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=8b5fd8f69a
Child Care
- Federal Liberals look to target child care funding to “vulnerable” families: http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/04/07/liberals-look-to-target-child-care-funding-to-vulnerable-families.html
- Liberal budget’s child-care funding commendable, but won’t help families any time soon: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/liberal-budgets-child-care-funding-commendable-but-wont-help-families-any-time-soon/article34689318/
City of Toronto gives homeless budget the slip:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/city-gives-homeless-budget-the-slip/
Food bank use goes up due to rising prices for housing, food, Daily Bread says:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/food-bank-housing-1.4071283
Ottawa pilots “name-blind” recruitment to reduce unconscious bias in hiring:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/04/20/ottawa-pilots-name-blind-recruitment-to-reduce-unconscious-bias-in-hiring.html
It’s not an Aboriginal problem. It’s a Canadian problem:
http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/7237705–this-is-not-an-aboriginal-problem-it-s-a-canadian-problem-/#.WO6fC8XnaZw.facebook
Canada Without Poverty: Reflections on the UN’s first review of Canada under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2017/04/rightsmatter-reflecting-on-the-1st-review-of-canada-at-un-crpd/
Community Food Centres Canada are next-gen food banks:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/13/community-food-centres-canada_n_15864140.html
Ontario
Equal Pay Day April 10: Ontario urged to tackle gender pay gap with transparency law:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/11/ontario-urgently-needs-pay-transparency-law-advocates-say.html
5 things Ontarians can do to avoid hydro disconnection on May 1:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3350584/hydro-5-things-ontarians-can-do-to-avoid-disconnection-on-may-1/
Government release: Ontario passes legislation to put consumers first:
https://news.ontario.ca/mgs/en/2017/04/ontario-passes-legislation-to-put-consumers-first.html
Op-Ed: Ontario’s Liberals take a big step to the left:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/ontarios-big-step-to-the-left/article34750555/
NDP outlines sweeping priorities in 2017 vision for Ontario’s document:
http://ipolitics.ca/2017/04/19/ndp-outlines-sweeping-priorities-in-2017-vision-for-ontario-document/
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Endorse the call to stop the citizenship bill language / knowledge test amendment:
http://www.ocasi.org/stop-bill-c-6-citizenship-bill
Recorded webinar: ODSP and Arts Council Grants – ODSP Action Coalition:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/odsp-and-arts-council-grants
- New brochure: ODSP and Arts Council Grants: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/odsp-and-arts-grants
April 25 – Windsor: Federal Poverty Reduction Strategy Consultation:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/federal-poverty-reduction-strategy-consultation-tickets-33679401998?aff=efbnreg
Upcoming workshops in Toronto: Retiring on a low income:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?Ntt=retiring+on+a+low+income
Non-Profit Tech for Good: Social and mobile media webinars:
http://www.nptechforgood.com/social-and-mobile-media-webinars-for-nonprofits/
Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=61233be4a0bcc87d8977b631e&id=6e7c6649b7&e=6da7d6f883
StatsCan: Employment Insurance February 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170420/dq170420a-eng.htm
StatsCan: Study: Recent developments in the Canadian economy, Spring 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170420/dq170420f-eng.htm
StatsCan: Consumer Price Index, March 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170421/dq170421a-eng.htm
Stats Can: New housing price index, February 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170413/dq170413c-eng.htm
Around the Province
Northern Ontarians suffer from poor health and access to care: Report:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/18/northern-ontarians-suffer-from-poor-health-and-access-to-care-report.html
Chatham-Kent health board supports dental care expansion:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2017/04/19/health-board-supports-dental-care-expansion
Pickering bylaw to save low-income seniors, people with disabilities $200:
https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/7231594-pickering-bylaw-to-save-low-income-seniors-people-with-disabilities-200/
Facing eviction, Burford mobile home park residents eye legal action:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2017/04/10/facing-eviction-park-residents-eye-legal-action
Windsor MP introduces private members bill on access to programs for persons with disabilities:
https://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/7238073-mp-hardcastle-introduces-bill-to-help-persons-with-disabilities-access-programs/
Alberta example could help Ottawa with low-income bus pass:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/cullen-alberta-example-could-help-ottawa-with-low-income-bus-pass
Niagara social assistance caseload stabilizing:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/04/18/niagara-social-assistance-caseload-stabilizing
Toronto seniors at high risk of ending up homeless, report finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/14/torontos-seniors-are-at-high-risk-of-ending-up-homeless-report-finds.html
Toronto Community Housing units set to close despite residents’ pleas:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/04/19/toronto-community-housing-units-set-to-close-despite-residents-pleas.html
The race is on to build affordable housing, as TCH units close:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/affordable-housing-focus-at-meeting-1.4066352
Toronto executive committee OKs shuttering of community housing units:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/jane-finch-tch-closure-1.4076430?cmp=rss
Nine MetCap buildings in Toronto’s Parkdale organize rent strike for May 1:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7246959-nine-metcap-buildings-in-parkdale-organize-rent-strike-for-may-1/
Toronto rental prices jump 30% in six months, other cities soar too:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/04/13/rental-prices-canada-toronto-padmapper_n_15994150.html
$2.5 billion daycare plan could serve half of Toronto’s young children:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/11/25b-daycare-plan-could-serve-half-of-torontos-young-children.html
Across the Country
Saskatoon food bank faces “serious shortage in stock” as demand rises:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/saskatoon-food-bank-faces-serious-shortage-in-stock-as-demand-rises
Saskatchewan finance minister looking for school board wage cuts or layoffs:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-school-boards-letter-1.4064299
- Saskatchewan cutting community-based organization funding by 10 per cent: http://leaderpost.com/news/politics/government-cutting-community-based-funding-by-10-per-cent
- Saskatchewan needle exchanges, Planned Parenthood at risk: http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/needle-exchanges-planned-parenthood-at-risk-from-saskatchewan-budget
- Letter: Fightback against austerity in Saskatchewan is essential: http://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/fightback-against-austerity-is-essential
Manitoba government to table austerity budget:
http://canadians.org/blog/manitoba-government-table-austerity-budget
“Isolated and alone”: The struggle of living in Nova Scotia without home internet:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/nova-scotia/home-internet-costs-accessibility-1.4072415
Economic insecurity touches BC seniors’ lives in profound ways:
http://www.policynote.ca/seniors-stories/#.WO29yLNhanc.facebook
Number of people who are homeless in Metro Vancouver jumps 30% since 2014:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/metro-vancouver-homeless-numbers-have-jumped-30-since-2014
- Shocking homeless count needs provincial help, says mayor: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/homeless-count-vancouver-response-1.4066499
BC anti-poverty activist says welfare rates need to increase:
http://www.inews880.com/syn/112/297523/anti-poverty-activist-says-welfare-rates-need-increase
- Should welfare rates be raised in BC? Parties’ election promises differ:
http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/should-welfare-rates-be-raised-in-b-c-1.15703645 - Poverty fighter says election platforms by major BC parties deny people on welfare a life with dignity:
http://www.straight.com/news/896391/poverty-fighter-says-election-platforms-major-bc-parties-deny-people-welfare-life
Opinion: Child poverty in BC is outrageous and unhealthy:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/trevor-hancock-child-poverty-is-outrageous-and-unhealthy-1.14992073
National
Basic Income or a reduced work week? An old labour debate:
http://rankandfile.ca/2017/04/11/basic-income-or-a-reduced-work-week-an-old-labour-debate/
Poll shows high concern among Canadians for better policies to fight income inequality:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/canadians-oppose-policies-that-would-align-canada-with-those-of-donald-trump-poll
Worth Repeating: Canada is the world’s newest tax haven:
http://projects.thestar.com/panama-papers/canada-is-the-worlds-newest-tax-haven/
The National ViewPoint: The middle class is about policy more than people:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/viewpoint-the-middle-class-is-about-policy-more-than-people-1.4074915
International
Utopian thinking: Free housing should be a universal right:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/10/free-housing-universal-right-free-market?CMP=fb_gu
Hundreds of children’s playgrounds in England close due to cuts:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/13/hundreds-of-childrens-playgrounds-in-england-close-owing-to-cuts?CMP=share_btn_tw
Living standards in the UK fall for the first time since 2014:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/12/living-standards-fall-first-time-since-2014-uk-inflation-pay-growth?CMP=share_btn_fb
Housing crisis: more than 200,000 homes in England lie empty:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/20/over-200000-homes-in-england-still-lying-empty-despite-housing-shortages
How the six-hour workday actually saves organizations money:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/six-hour-workday-saves-money-how-organisations-businesses-gothenburg-sweden-study-a7688276.html
The surprising truth behind tax day: Where taxes in the US go:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/40206-the-surprising-truth-behind-tax-day-where-your-taxes-go
Supply-side economics, but for liberals:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/15/upshot/supply-side-economics-but-for-liberals.html
