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Home / Media and Policy News / Media & Policy News: 24 March 2016

Media & Policy News: 24 March 2016

Top Stories

Federal Budget 2016: Growing the Middle Class:
http://www.budget.gc.ca/2016/home-accueil-en.html

ISAC commentary and analysis: The 2016 Federal Budget and Income Security:
http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/the-2016-federal-budget-and-income-security/

Desperate parents were praying for federal action amid daycare anarchy:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/22/desperate-parents-pray-for-federal-action-amid-daycare-anarchy.html

Affordable housing crisis intensifies in Canada:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2586295/ive-given-up-affordable-housing-crisis-intensifies-in-canada/

Migrant farm worker launches discrimination complaint against WSIB:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/21/migrant-farm-worker-launches-discrimination-complaint-against-wsib.html

Basic Income: A radical idea for eliminating poverty:
http://blogs.plos.org/publichealth/2016/03/14/basic-income-a-radical-idea-for-eliminating-poverty/

Freeman: The Canada Revenue Agency is rotten to the core. It’s time to clean house:
http://ipolitics.ca/2016/03/16/the-canada-revenue-agency-is-rotten-to-the-core-time-to-clean-house/

The worst may be over for food price inflation:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/03/18/experts-credit-a-rising-loonie-for-good-news-due-soon-on-canadas-food-inflation-front

 

Ontario

Ontario is lagging on paid sick days, leaving low-wage workers stranded:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/22/ontario-lagging-on-paid-sick-days-leaving-low-wage-workers-stranded.html

Opposition leader says Ontario government is hypocritical on mental illness:
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/03/21/ontario-government-hypocritical-on-mental-health-brown

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things

Petition: Support for supervised injection services in the City of Toronto:
https://www.change.org/p/toronto-city-council-support-for-supervised-injection-services-in-the-city-of-toronto?recruiter=1400331&

In Hamilton, April 2: Building Together: A conference by and for renters:
http://www.hamiltontenantssolidarity.ca/buildingtogether/

What tenants in Ontario need to know about the law: New edition now available:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/what-tenants-need-know-about-law-new-edition-now-available

 

Around the Province

Low income Regent Park residents lobbying for change to access to local programs:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/regent-park-residents-learn-to-change-programs-to-meet-local-needs/article29296912/

Poverty and fare hikes are the real reasons behind “fraud” at the TTC:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2016/03/18/poverty-behind-most-cases-of-ttc-fraud.html

Working poor adults in Sault Ste. Marie continue to be without adequate dental care:
http://www.saultthisweek.com/2016/03/15/low-income-adults-still-dental-orphans

United Way Sault Ste. Marie getting help to keep giving cash advances for out-of-town medical appointments:
http://www.saultstar.com/2016/03/18/united-way-gets-help

Kids in poverty in St. Catherines encouraged to get active:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2016/03/22/kids-in-poverty-encouraged-to-get-active

 

Across the Country

Minimum wage, social housing, and income benefit promises from Manitoba’s NDP in election campaign:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/provincial-election/ndp-pledge-yearly-minimum-wage-increase-of-50-cents-372685271.html

Low income rental units drying up in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/income+rental+units+drying+Vancouver+Downtown+Eastside/11799989/story.html

How BC’s social assistance rates prevent access to public transit:
http://themainlander.com/2016/03/17/the-price-of-public-transit-how-social-assistance-rates-prevent-access/

Poverty remains a priority for voters ahead of Saskatchewan election:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/poverty-an-issue-for-voters-before-sask-election-1.3499658

 

National

Decreasing OAS age eligibility to 65 makes Canada the “odd one out”:
http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/retirement/taking-oas-eligibility-back-to-age-65-makes-canada-the-odd-one-out-when-it-comes-to-global-pensions

Immigrants more likely to be self-employed, but is this a function of not getting jobs?:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2591104/immigrants-more-likely-to-start-businesses-than-the-canadian-born-study/

Wellesley: Supervised injection sites play a critical third role in health:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/health/supervised-injection-services-play-a-critical-3rd-role-in-health/

Goar: Incarcerating migrants is inhumane:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/21/incarcerating-migrants-is-inhumane-goar.html

 

International

Raise our taxes to combat poverty, dozens of New York millionaires tell lawmakers:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/raise-our-taxes-combat-poverty-say-dozens-new-york-millionaires-1550866

These 13 US states require drug testing for welfare recipients:
http://extract.suntimes.com/information-resources/10/153/17278/states-that-mandate-drug-testing-welfare-recipients/

UK’s Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith resigns, denouncing further cuts to disability benefits:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-35848687

Europe is “drowning” under the cost of welfare bills:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/23/europe-is-now–drowning-under-the-cost-of-welfare-bills/

Government of New Zealand is considering Basic Income:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/376999/labour-considers-universal-basic-income-policyMedia