Top Stories
National Vote to End Poverty campaign launched September 1:
- Campaign website here: http://votetoendpoverty.ca/
- CBC Hamilton: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/campaign-aims-to-get-voters-interested-in-poverty-issues-1.3210144
- Hamilton Spectator: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5823825-taking-aim-at-poverty-through-federal-election/
- CTV Windsor: http://windsor.ctvnews.ca/vote-to-end-poverty-campaign-kicks-off-at-downtown-mission-1.2542794
- CBC North: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/vote-to-end-poverty-rally-wants-homelessness-in-federal-election-spotlight-1.3211600
- CHCH: http://www.chch.com/vote-to-end-poverty/
- Our Windsor: http://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/5823723-non-partisan-poverty-reduction-campaign-launches-in-windsor/
- Windsorite.ca: http://windsorite.ca/2015/09/vote-to-end-poverty-campaign-launched/
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives releases four-part platform to end inequality in Canada:
http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/09/02/national-think-tank-unveils-platform-to-end-inequality-in-canada.html
On the one-year anniversary of Ontario’s second Poverty Reduction Strategy, CCPA-Ontario looks at Ontario’s commitment, current Ontario poverty numbers, and the need for a strong federal partner:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/09/03/ontarios-poverty-reduction-strategy-still-missing-a-federal-partner/
People with lived experience of poverty must be included when asking for advice on poverty issues:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/09/01/poverty-poor-need-their-voices-heard
- St Catherines columnist agrees: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/09/02/lafleche-poverty-voice-needed-on-mayors-committee
Op-Ed: Could the Guaranteed Annual Income be an idea whose time has come?
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1307948-guaranteed-annual-income-would-reduce-poverty-health-costs
Letter to the Editor: Why not a $25 minimum wage?
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2015/08/30/why-not-a-25-minimum-wage.html
Letter to the Editor: Food prices up 3.5%, but social assistance rates only up 1%:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2015/08/30/mpps-should-give-poverty-a-try.html
Severe poverty impacts children’s brain development, says study:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/08/30/severe-poverty-affects-childrens-brain-development-study-finds.html
Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff
IRPP report says Canada’s sickness benefits need an overhaul:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sickness-benefits-need-an-overhaul-for-aging-workforce-study-1.3213220
- Here’s the report: “Leaving some behind: What happens when workers get sick”: http://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/report-2015-09-03.pdf
More from CWP on their new handbook on applying human rights approaches to poverty reduction:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2015/09/rights-matter-practical-guide-to-ending-poverty-canada
Ontario
Local Poverty Reduction Fund provides Six Nations and City of Brantford nearly $600K for aboriginal students and children affected by poverty:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2015/09/02/grants-for-poverty-reduction-projects
- Ontario press release: http://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/09/local-poverty-reduction-fund-to-invest-in-educational-programs-in-brantford-and-ohsweken.html
Ontario announces new youth employment program:
http://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2015/09/ontario-launches-new-youth-employment-program.html
Around the Province
Meeting on Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy coming up September 16 in North York:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5827111-north-york-harvest-food-bank-hosts-meeting-on-city-s-poverty-reduction-plans/
Leaky roof just the beginning at Toronto Community Housing building:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/30/leaky-roofs-just-the-beginning-of-troubles-at-tchc-building.html
Ottawa transportation coalition pushing for low-income transit pass in next municipal budget:
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/5821575-transportation-coalition-pushes-for-low-income-transit-pass/
One woman’s struggle with poverty in St. Catherines:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/05/lisa-britton-turns-anger-into-poverty-advocacy
Op-Ed: Now that Toronto has a Poverty Reduction Strategy, will Council fund it?
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/01/will-john-tory-be-torontos-anti-poverty-mayor.html
Shelter in Niagara region keeps families together:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/19/ywcas-emergency-shelter-keeps-families-together
Oshawa organization celebrates 30 years of helping people find work:
http://oshawaexpress.ca/viewposting.php?view=8411
Across the Country
Identification Clinic helps Nova Scotians who are homeless get the ID they need for benefits and more:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/the-identification-clinic-helps-homeless-break-down-barriers-1.3209893
Saskatchewan NDP calls for guaranteed annual income pilot project:
http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=16844
National
Business investment AWOL while Canadian households keep economy afloat through credit:
http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/what-the-gdp-numbers-say-about-canadas-great-economic-divide/
Rise in campus food banks demonstrates the inaccessibility of education:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/08/25/campus-food-banks-trend-troubling-students-say.html
National Post survey reveals a $15 minimum wage would bring “a nightmare scenario”:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/After+minimum+wage+would+bring+nightmare+scenario+Canada+critics/11325174/story.html
Reforms that mean the refugee determination system moves faster also means less access to justice for claimants:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Faster+timelines+mean+less+access+justice+refugees/11325348/story.html
- Project slams changes to immigration and refugee policy: http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/09/02/migrants-slam-impact-of-immigration-overhaul.html
New Live-In-Caregiver program rules creating barriers to employment:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/new-rules-meant-to-protect-caregivers-pose-barrier-to-employment/article26160332/
Federal Election
Despite the need, Aboriginal issues are not getting enough attention in the campaign:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/09/01/despite-need-aboriginal-issues-not-getting-much-attention-in-election-campaign.html
Maytree blog: Getting poverty on the election agenda:
http://maytree.com/blog/2015/08/getting-poverty-on-the-election-agenda/
Information on how to vote, given the Fair Elections Act changes, from Hamilton Roundtable:
http://hamiltonpoverty.ca/neighbourhood-development/
Nunavut’s food crisis becoming an election issue:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/episode-248-an-ex-marine-remembers-katrina-censoring-china-s-market-crash-nunavut-s-food-crisis-more-1.3204850/nunavut-s-food-crisis-is-becoming-an-election-issue-1.3204965
Federation of Canadian Municipalities Policy Tracker, includes transit, infrastructure, and housing:
http://www.citiescan.ca/policy_tracker
International
UN to investigate UK welfare reforms for “grave or systemic” violations of rights of people with disabilities:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13635161.UN_launches_investigation_into__grave__violations_of_disabled_people_s_human_rights_over_welfare_reforms/?ref=fbshr
- Young UK man who can’t talk, read or write must complete 20 page form to keep disability benefits: https://jsuknewsofficial.wordpress.com/2015/08/31/he-cannot-talk-read-or-write-but-tories-want-severely-disabled-stuart-chester-to-fill-in-20-page-form-to-keep-benefits/
- UK welfare reforms not helping increase employment says new study: http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/5214/uk-welfare-reforms-failing-to-boost-employment/
- 100,000 Northern Ireland children living in poverty: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/101000-children-living-in-poverty-as-income-of-northern-ireland-families-falls-31501336.html
- Scotland to spend £100M to mitigate the harm caused by UK welfare cuts: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scotland-to-spend-100m-in-the-next-year-to-mitigate-harm-caused-by-tory-welfare-cuts-10481891.html
Study: US single moms more likely to face poverty than single dads, and have harder time getting out:
http://phys.org/news/2015-08-mothers-poverty-fathers.html
- Washington DC is “dramatically” increasing services for families without homes: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-dramatically-expands-services-for-homeless-families/2015/08/31/0e69223e-4f83-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html
Sweden to increase social spending under deal between minority government and opposition:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/29/sweden-budget-idUSL5N11409M20150829
Summit to explore better welfare and child policies in New Zealand:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1509/S00017/cpag-summit-welfare-fit-for-families-in-a-changing-world.htm
