Top Stories
How low-income people suffer without dental care:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/dental-care-low-income-1.3466557
- Spending on painkillers instead of public dental services makes no sense: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/health-network-spends-1-7-m-per-year-on-painkillers-for-dental-service-1.3471261
More from Geneva:
- Mercury blighted community of Grassy Narrows takes its case to the UN: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/27/mercury-blighted-community-of-grassy-narrows-takes-its-case-to-the-un.html
- Canada defends its record on social and economic rights at the United Nations: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/25/canada-united-nations-social-economic-rights_n_9317168.html
- CWP: It’s the right time to act on poverty: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/canada-without-poverty/2016/02/right-time-to-act-on-poverty#.VtTaFSmo1KQ.facebook
- Canada comes up short at UN review of human-rights issues: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/canada-comes-up-short-at-un-review-of-human-rights-issues/article28920625/
- CWP: UN tells Canadian government that human rights are not optional: http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2016/02/un-tells-trudeau-government-human-rights-are-not-optional/
- Maytree: International boost for human rights in Canada: http://maytree.com/policy-and-insights/opinion/international-boost-for-human-rights-in-canada.html
Disability advocates protest BC’s bus pass clawback:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Disability+advocates+protest+pass+clawback/11758135/story.html
Ontario Premier calls for interjurisdictional cooperation on safe drinking water for First Nations:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kathleen-wynne-calls-on-feds-provinces-to-provide-first-nations-with-safe-drinking-water-1.3471824?cmp=abfb
Scotiabank economist: Canada needs $20 billion in stimulus to achieve “escape velocity”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/we-need-20-billion-in-stimulus-to-achieve-escape-velocity/article28854484/?cmpid=rss1
Globe editorial: Guaranteed annual income might solve big problems:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/the-guaranteed-annual-income-a-little-idea-that-might-just-solve-some-very-big-problems/article28746532/
- Basic Income Canada Network: Ontario to try basic income pilot: http://www.basicincomecanada.org/ontario_to_try_basic_income_guarantee_pilot
- Province plans Basic Income pilot project as part of Budget: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/26/ontario-basic-income_n_9328264.html
- Letters to the editor: Guaranteed income has flaws: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2016/02/22/guaranteed-income-has-flaws.html
- Eggleton: It’s time for Canada to test a Basic Income: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sen-art-eggleton/art-eggleton-basic-income_b_9331180.html
- Op-Ed: Let’s get the basic income experiment right: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/01/lets-get-the-basic-income-experiment-right.html
Access to legal services: It’s a social justice issue:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nikki-gershbain/canadian-social-justice_b_9290224.html
Study: Closing five tax loopholes that primarily benefit the wealthy would raise $16 billion for federal and provincial governments:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/24/tax-loopholes-canada-toby-sanger_n_9309578.html
More on Ontario Budget 2016
Rabble: Free tuition promise could usher long-held dream of privatizing the system: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/nora-loreto/2016/02/ontario-liberal-promise-free-tuition-could-usher-long-held-dream-
Don’t call Ontario’s new grant “free tuition”:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/dont-call-ontarios-new-grant-free-tuition
- Update: Ontario tuition grants are free after all: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/its-official-ontario-tuition-grants-are-free-after-all
Where’s the money for affordable housing:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/affordable-housing-toronto-1.3466198
Co-pay, deductible hikes for drugs will be tough on seniors:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/co-pay-deductible-hikes-for-drugs-will-be-tough-on-seniors-advocate-says
- Wynne taking a second look at seniors’ drug plan changes: http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/29/wynne-taking-second-look-at-seniors-drug-plan-changes
- Star editorial: Ontario should back off on seniors’ drug costs: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/03/01/ontario-should-back-off-on-seniors-drug-costs-editorial.html
How Kathleen Wynne is taking from the richer to give to the poorer:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-budget-2016-kathleen-wynne-middle-class-low-income-1.3469385
Star Editorial: Ontario Budget leaves poorest children behind:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/02/29/ontario-budget-leaves-ontarios-poorest-children-behind-editorial.html
Globe Editorial: Why Ontario’s budget is a success that dare not speak its name:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/why-ontarios-budget-is-a-success-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/article28922048/
Registered Nurses of Ontario response:
http://rnao.ca/news/media-releases/2016/02/25/rnao-applauds-government-delivering-promise-look-np-compensation-says
Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association response:
http://qc.onpha.on.ca/2016/02/onphas-response-to-the-2016-ontario-budget/
Ontario Association of Food Banks: The hidden highlight of the budget:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/ontarios-2016-budget_b_9365652.html
Ontario
Court victory for Ontario couple sets new precedent for precarious “independent contractor” workers:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/21/125000-court-win-for-ontario-couple-sets-precedent-for-precarious-workers.html
Wage theft complaint results in firing; one-third of Ministry orders remain unpaid:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/17/victims-left-exposed-in-wage-theft-war.html
Deaths of people who are homeless go uncounted in Ontario:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2016/02/21/homeless-deaths-in-ontario-go-uncounted.html
Nearly half of Ontarians continue to support provincial pension plan:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/nearly-half-of-ontarians-continue-to-support-the-provincial-pension-plan-amid-heated-debate
Ontario integrates services to children and families into new Early Years Child and Family Centres:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/02/improving-access-to-services-for-young-children-and-their-families.html
Ontario launches centre for workforce innovation at Ryerson:
https://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2016/02/modernizing-employment-and-training-services-for-ontario-jobseekers.html
Ontario implementing Indigenous training and education requirements for public service:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/02/ontario-implementing-new-indigenous-training-and-education-requirements.html
Ontario invests $92 million on social housing environmental retrofits:
https://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2016/02/ontario-investing-92-million-to-create-jobs-and-retrofit-social-housing.html
Proposal stalled to create one Ontario agency responsible for mental health and addictions:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/02/23/mental-health-addictions-proposed-for-one-agency
Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things
Are Canadians ready for retirement? Not even close, says Broadbent Institute:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/16/retirement-finances-preparedness-broadbent-institute_n_9244172.html
- Here’s the report: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/an_analysis_of_the_economic_circumstances_of_canadian_seniors
- CBC coverage: Fewer than 20% of middle income earners have more than 5 years of savings: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/retirement-savings-broadbent-institute-1.3450084?__vfz=tc%3DcRCynkOGSOA
- Governments of Canada and Ontario announce agreement towards improving pensions: https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2016/02/governments-of-canada-and-ontario-announce-agreement-to-help-canadians-enjoy-a-more-secure-retiremen.html
March 23: Low-Income Energy Network conference: Meeting the challenges of energy affordability:
http://www.lowincomeenergy.ca/news-events/2016/02/register-now-for-the-2016-lien-annual-conference!/
New book from IRPP: Income Inequality: The Canadian Story:
http://irpp.org/research/income-inequality-the-canadian-story/
- Goar: IRPP’s realistic plan to narrow the income gap: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/02/a-realistic-plan-to-narrow-the-income-gap-goar.html
Video: John Stapleton on how higher food prices are affecting Canadian families:
http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=813604
Please circulate: Toronto Transit Fare Equity Survey for those making under $36,000:
http://cityoftoronto.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/tess/transit-fare-equity-survey/
Social Movement Technologies: Tools for online organizing:
http://socialmovementtechnologies.org/upcoming-online-training
Around the Province
Gull Bay First Nation sues federal and provincial governments over a reserve land surveying error:
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/384005/Gull_Bay_sues_Canada,_Ontario_over_165-year-old_land_surveying_error
The impact of Hamilton steel mill closures, on people and the economy:
http://www.thestar.com/business/economy/2016/02/20/the-long-shadow-of-hamilton-steel-mills.html
Hamilton ready to lead the way regulating payday loan businesses:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-ready-to-lead-the-way-regulating-payday-loan-business-1.3450629?cmp=rss
Thunder Bay homeless count shows nearly 75% of homeless are Indigenous:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/thunder-bay/homeless-count-thunder-bay-aboriginal-1.3464406
Kenora poverty challenge opens eyes:
http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/02/23/sixth-annual-poverty-challenge-an-eye-opener-for-participants
Hundreds walk in Welland against poverty on the coldest night of the year:
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/community-story/6342119-hundreds-walk-in-welland-against-poverty-with-coldest-night/
Niagara Region: Public transit must be reliable and affordable:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/02/10/public-transit-must-be-reliable-affordable
Spending money on poverty reduction better at reducing crime than increasing Toronto police budget:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/02/17/fighting-poverty-most-effective-at-reducing-crime-prof-says-.html
- Toronto Poverty Reduction website: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=de8f727e05c79410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
Toronto shelters are bursting at the seams: OCAP report:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2518550/homeless-shelters-in-toronto-bursting-at-the-seams-report/
Social housing emergencies show vulnerable tenants need support:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sharad-kerur/social-housing-emergencies_b_9300542.html
Volunteers helping Syrian newcomers in Toronto are overwhelmed:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6314240-volunteers-helping-syrian-newcomers-in-toronto-are-overwhelmed-doctor-says/
Toronto shelter allows people who are homeless maintain their lifeline:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/24/pet-friendly-shelter-helps-homeless-maintain-lifeline.html
Parkdale residents protest poor housing conditions and rent increases:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/24/tenants-push-for-heat-repairs-in-parkdale-apartments.html
Three faces of poverty in Parkdale, Toronto:
https://onmemoryanddesire.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/three-faces-of-poverty-a-brief-personal-history-of-parkdale/
New community centre brings opportunity to Toronto’s Regent Park:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/regent-park-community-centre-nelson-mandela-park-public-school-1.3467193
Toronto bylaw limiting payday lenders gets support from ACORN and councillors:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/28/toronto-bylaw-limiting-payday-lenders-gets-a-push-from-acorn-councillors.html
Months to live, but a longer wait for affordable housing in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/26/months-to-live-but-a-longer-wait-for-housing-porter.html
Across the Country
Overwhelmed Alberta Works staff turn away people seeking social assistance help:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/ei-alberta-works-applications-income-support-1.3462402
Make Poverty History wants to make poverty an election issue in upcoming Manitoba election:
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/03/01/group-seeks-to-make-poverty-an-election-issue
Eviction deadline looms at Victoria tent camp but enforcement not planned:
http://www.680news.com/2016/02/24/eviction-deadline-looms-at-victoria-tent-camp-but-enforcement-not-planned/
Corner Brook, NFLD school launches soup kitchen:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/corner-brook-school-turns-soup-kitchen-1.3442306
Nunavut’s rich-poor gap continues to grow:
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavuts_rich-poor_continues_to_grow_stats_reveal/
National
83,000 seniors to get overdue GIS payments, but no interest:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/seniors-gis-overdue-payments-1.3469475
- Paying interest being considered: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gis-seniors-shortchanged-interest-1.3471342
The bottom 20% of Canadian households are spending over half their incomes on basic necessities:
www.pressprogress.ca/statistics_canada_bottom_20_of_households_spending_over_half_their_budgets_on_basic_necessities
First Nations in state of shock as they declare public-health emergency:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/24/first-nations-in-state-of-shock-as-it-declares-public-health-emergency.html
The federal government has announced it will update and reinstate the Court Challenges Program:
http://voices-voix.ca/en/facts/profile/court-challenges-program
Bombardier slashes 2,830 jobs in Canada (ed. note: Are they still looking for federal funding?):
http://www.flamboroughreview.com/news-story/6311959-canada-to-lose-2-830-jobs-as-bombardier-slashes-workforce/
Goar: Lessons from Canada’s refugee health care saga:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/24/lessons-from-canadas-refugee-health-saga-goar.html
Eradicating poverty will require a move from charity to justice:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/glen-pearson/charity-to-justice_b_9322086.html
International
A hidden cost when poor children are picky eaters:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/opinion/why-poor-children-cant-be-picky-eaters.html
Number of Japanese households on welfare hits record high in December:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/02/national/japan-child-rearing-homes-living-poverty-doubled-20-years-1-46-million-researcher/#.Vtm4w-YsB-9
Benefit changes in the UK make it harder for people who are homeless to rent:
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/25/benefit-changes-homeless-rent-property-landlords-crisis
People who are homeless sleeping in dumpsters a growing issue in the UK:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35686743
Officials seizing tiny houses from people who are homeless in South Los Angeles:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-tiny-houses-seized-20160224-story.html
In one month, the US will begin intentionally starving poor people:
http://gawker.com/in-one-month-we-will-begin-intentionally-starving-poor-1761588216
Costco increases wages for lowest-paid workers in the US:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/costco-minimum-wage-increase-wage_us_56d87da5e4b0ffe6f8e86e00
What the US presidential candidates are saying on poverty and opportunity:
http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2016/02/29-presidential-candidates-poverty-opportunity-haskins
It’s time to take Basic Income seriously. The labour market is why:
http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/02/23-time-to-take-basic-income-seriously-reeves
