Media & Policy News: 1 December 2015

Reports, Campaigns, Events

RNAO Take Action: PM Trudeau and Premier Wynne: Invest now in affordable housing for better health:
http://rnao.ca/policy/action-alerts/prime-minister-trudeau-and-premier-wynne-invest-now-affordable-housing-better-h

Month of Action: Ontario workers need paid sick days!:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=3b46f2e9e4&e=51059eb750

$15 and Fairness calls for paid sick days:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=537ba730e3&e=f3bab51a7a

OCASI Guides for Migrant Workers:
Low and High Skilled Streams: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/migrant-worker-guide-low-and-high-skilled-streams
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Stream: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/migrant-worker-guide-seasonal-agricultural-worker-program-sawp-stream
Caregiver Stream: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/migrant-worker-guide-caregiver-stream

Workers Action Centre review of the new Stronger Workplaces Act:
http://www.workersactioncentre.org/updates/stronger-workplaces-for-a-stronger-economy-act-2014-how-the-laws-have-changed/

Report: How much does the childcare system work and how much does a childcare space cost in Quebec?
http://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/15/10/how-does-childcare-system-work-and-how-much-does-childcare-

Guided self-help materials for people appealing ODSP decisions, from Hamilton Community Legal Clinic:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Clinic+Develops+ODSP+Guided+Self+Help+Materials&id=308

Ontario Homeless Hub: Precarious and Low Wage Employment Infographic:
http://homelesshub.ca/blog/infographic-precarious-low-wage-employment

Ontario Living Wage Network website:
http://www.ccpaontario.ca/ontariolivingwage.ca/

Ontario

Deirdre Pike Op-Ed: We need new rules to help people who are homeless:
http://m.thespec.com/opinion-story/6117046-pike-we-need-new-rules-to-assist-the-homeless

Minimum wage vs. living wage: How Ontario’s cities stack up:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/minimum-wage-vs-living-wage-how-ontarios-cities-stack-up

Ottawa ACORN to meet with MCSS Minister Jaczek on shelter rates for people on ODSP:
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/6112966-ottawa-acorn-members-to-meet-with-social-services-minister/

Ottawa justice of the peace questions listening to Ojibway man’s “sad” story, despite Gladue principles:
http://aptn.ca/news/2015/11/10/ottawa-judge-tells-ojibway-man-she-doesnt-want-to-hear-another-sob-story/

Big win for injured workers with full indexation of benefits:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Big+Win+for+Injured+Workers&id=309

Housing crisis for adults with developmental disabilities grows in Ontario:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2331449/housing-crisis-for-adults-with-developmental-disabilities-grows-in-ontario-families/

Ontario building 30 new schools, including room for 2,135 new licensed child care spaces:
https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2015/11/ontario-building-30-new-schools-over-2000-licensed-child-care-spaces.html

Ontario building new mental health crisis centre in London:
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2015/11/ontario-building-new-mental-health-crisis-centre-in-london.html

Six Nations Polytechnic to receive additional funding:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6120814-more-than-1m-in-extra-funding-for-six-nations-polytechnic/

Around the Province

Non-profits in the GTA should lead the way in improving job quality, says new report:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/25/a-decent-proposal-not-for-profits-should-raise-job-standards-report-says.html

The hidden homeless in Toronto’s suburbs:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/homeless-toronto-1.3340277

Rising food costs overwhelm families in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, especially those on social assistance:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2015/11/05/food-costs-overwhelm-families

Mississauga council fear poor people will be pushed away from LRT route:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/06/mississauga-council-fears-poor-people-will-be-pushed-away-from-lrt-route.html

Mississauga councillor proposes 10% of new builds be affordable housing: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/councillor-proposes-10-of-new-mississauga-developments-be-affordable-housing-1.3335008
Mississauga begins inventory of affordable housing: http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6139289-city-staff-to-begin-its-inventory-of-affordable-housing/

Hamilton OW staff mark one year of SAMS computer system with “code red day” protest:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/ontario-works-staff-stage-protest-to-mark-1-year-of-flawed-computer-system-1.3311947

Social Planning Council of Sudbury says a family of four in that city needs $66,513 to make ends meet:
http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2015/11/04-living-wage-meeting-sudbury.aspx

Windsor businesses, unions and charities committed to paying a living wage:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/more-windsor-businesses-commit-to-paying-a-living-wage

“Rays of hope” as Oshawa battles child poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2015/11/07/rays-of-hope-rise-in-oshawas-battle-against-child-poverty.html

Oshawa tenants organize for repairs to neglected, crime-ridden building:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/08/oshawa-tenants-organize-for-repairs-to-neglected-crime-ridden-building.html

Guaranteed Income urged in the fight against hunger in Ottawa:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/guaranteed-income-urged-in-fight-against-hunger

Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law to be in effect April 1, 2017:
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2015/11/04/anishinabek-nation-child-well-being-law-projected-to-be-in-effect-april-1-2017/

Guelph and Wellington employers make commitment to paying a living wage:
http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/6085357-guelph-and-wellington-employers-make-commitment-to-paying-living-wage-to-employees/

Thunder Bay inquest on youth deaths: Indigenous cases treated by police as “less than worthy victims”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/indigenous-cases-treated-by-police-as-less-than-worthy-victims-lawyer-says-1.3307961?cmp=rss

Toronto’s poverty strategy means little without a financial commitment:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/11/04/when-good-talk-goes-down-like-a-lead-pipe-keenan.html

Toronto’s poverty reduction plan: Heart’s in the right place. Where’s the money?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontos-poverty-plan-has-its-heart-in-the-right-place/article27160494/
Great plan, but good luck getting the city to pay its share: http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/chris-selley-john-torys-anti-poverty-strategy-is-viable-but-good-luck-getting-the-city-to-pay-its-share
Toronto poverty reduction strategy aims to expand dental care for low-income adults: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/city-to-expand-dental-care-for-low-income-adults-1.3305569
Star Editorial: Fund the fight against poverty: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/11/08/fund-the-fight-against-poverty-editorial.html?referrer

Toronto Councillor Layton asks Queen’s Park to give municipalities inclusionary zoning powers:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6098438-councillor-mike-layton-asks-queen-s-park-to-give-municipalities-new-affordable-housing-tool/

Star editorial: Toronto should endorse inclusionary zoning: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/05/04/toronto-should-endorse-an-obvious-way-to-boost-affordable-housing-editorial.html

Toronto’s Meeting Place: A safe haven for those in need:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/07/the-meeting-place-a-safe-haven-for-those-in-need.html

Citypak project doles out “streetwise” backpacks to people who are homeless in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/06/citypak-project-distributes-a-streetwise-backpack-for-torontos-homeless.html

One Toronto man will spend the first winter in 10 years indoors:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/homeless-mindset-hard-to-shake-for-toronto-man-1.3308200

Toronto janitors take on property moguls:
http://rankandfile.ca/2015/11/11/toronto-janitors-take-on-property-moguls/

Across the Country

Bif Naked, on her experience on BC’s Welfare Diet Challenge. It ain’t pretty:
http://www.straight.com/news/574136/bif-naked-welfare-food-challenge-reveals-classism-vancouver

Solving youth homelessness in BC, one community at a time:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/11/09/Solving-Youth-Homelessness/

Refugees in Halifax to get one-year transit passes:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-refugees-to-get-temp-transit-passes-1.3340148

National

Audio: How are Canada’s poor being misrepresented? An academic with lived experience investigates the portrayal of people who are poor in the media and in government:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2678523060

Prime Minister Trudeau commits to a national Poverty Reduction Plan:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2015/11/pm-trudeau-commits-to-poverty-plan/?utm_source=hootsuite

Return of the long-form census!
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/05/liberals-restore-mandatory-long-form-census.html

Canada to join G20 effort to limit multinationals’ profit shifting and increase government revenues:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-to-join-g20-effort-to-limit-profit-shifting-by-multinationals/article27261166/

Martha Friendly: A national child care system… “because it’s 2015”:
http://childcarecanada.org/blog/national-child-care-system%E2%80%9Cbecause-it%E2%80%99s-2015%E2%80%9D

Minister to announce plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry “shortly”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/missing-indigenous-women-inquiry-carolyn-bennett-1.3311993

Bennett gives Indigenous Affairs department July 1 2017 deadline to deliver results on reconciliation:
http://aptn.ca/news/2015/11/13/bennett-gives-indigenous-affairs-department-july-1-2017-deadline-to-deliver-results-on-reconciliation/

Canada should stop jailing young offenders:
http://www.tillsonburgnews.com/2015/10/30/canada-should-stop-jailing-our-young-offenders

Most people in jail today are innocent: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/11/04/most-people-in-jail-today-are-innocent-michael-bryant.html
New federal government to review the use of mandatory minimum sentences: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberals-will-review-controversial-mandatory-minimums-justice-minister-1.2648279

Canadian Council for Refugees – “Traditionally a leader in welcoming refugees and other newcomers, Canada can and must renew its efforts to protect their rights”:

Seven Keys to protecting and welcoming refugees and newcomers: http://ccrweb.ca/en/refugees-newcomers-vision-Canada
Key Priorities for the new government: http://ccrweb.ca/en/key-priorities-new-government

Government to fully restore refugee health-care cuts:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/meet-your-new-government-1.3305229/liberals-to-fully-restore-refugee-health-care-cuts-says-john-mccallum-1.3305978

No, Canada doesn’t spend more on refugees than on pensioners:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2349786/no-canada-doesnt-spend-more-on-refugees-than-pensioners/

International

Trans-Pacific Partnership: The most brazen corporate power grab in American history:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_most_brazen_corporate_power_grab_in_american_history_20151106

Lack of parental leave and early childhood education programs leaves US kids worse off:
http://inthesetimes.com/article/18558/lack_of_parental_leave_early_childhood_education_hurting_american_kids

What’s killing poor white women in the US?:
http://prospect.org/article/whats-killing-poor-white-women

Most UK Tory MPs oppose their government’s tax credit cuts:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/14/tax-credits-cuts-conservative-mps-opposed-stephen-mcpartland

Robert Reich: Friction is now between the global financial elite and the rest of us:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/11/us-uk-politics-economics