Top Stories
IWD: What 20 years of the gender wage gap looks like in Canada:
http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/what-20-years-of-the-gender-wage-gap-looks-like-in-canada/
- Women still earning less than men despite gains in education: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/women-still-earning-less-money-than-men-despite-gains-in-education-study/article29044130/
- CCPA report: The Unequal Economics of Women’s Work: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/making-women-count-2016
UN tells Canada to clean up its record on economic, social and cultural inequality:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/03/08/UN-Tells-Canada-Clean-Up-Inequality/
- ISAC response: UN report reveals major holes in Canada’s social safety net: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/un-report-reveals-major-holes-in-canadas-social-safety-net/
- Canada Without Poverty: Canada is failing on economic and social rights: http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2016/03/canada-failing-on-economic-and-social-rights-un-reports/
UN report raises concern over Canada’s persistent housing crisis:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/07/un-raises-concern-over-canadas-persistent-housing-crisis.html
- Right to Housing Campaign response to UN report: https://righttohousing.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/new-un-report-slams-canada-for-persistent-housing-homelessness-crisis/
- In Canada, housing is a right. Right? http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/02/26/Is-Housing-a-Right/
- Vancouver’s Pivot Legal Society supports UN report on housing: http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2016/03/07/pivot-supports-un-report-on-canadian-housing.html
Food bank stats don’t tell the whole story of food insecurity:
http://www.thinkupstream.net/foodbankdata
- Low income Canadians struggle to feed their kids healthy food as food prices rise: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/lowincome+families+struggle+feed+their+kids+healthy+foods+prices/11730788/story.html
- Op-Ed: The ugly truth is that many Canadians didn’t have enough food this year: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-ugly-truth-many-canadians-didnt-have-enough-food-this-year/article27920948/
Economic uncertainty and political possibility are giving new life to an old policy idea: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/basic-income-interest-1.3479079
- After Ontario announces pilot project, Ottawa faces pressure to act on basic income: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-should-work-with-ontario-on-guaranteed-income-strategy-advocates/article28936544/
- Why Canada is ripe for universal basic income: http://thewalrus.ca/top-dollar/
- Basic income could help eliminate under-the-table work: http://www.inquisitr.com/2834332/basic-income-ontario-to-introduce-pilot-program-aimed-at-improving-efficiency-eliminating-poverty/
- Is the fix for poverty as simple as a cheque in the mail?: https://nowtoronto.com/news/is-fix-for-poverty-as-simple-as-cheque-in-the-mail%3F/
- Yakabuski: Basic income a policy response to a big changes in the labour market: http://www.theglobeandmail.com//opinion/thinking-big-about-employment/article29037296/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globefb
- The Conservative case for a Guaranteed Basic Income: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/08/why-arent-reformicons-pushing-a-guaranteed-basic-income/375600/
Goar: Taxes are the third rail of Canadian politics:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/04/taxes-the-third-rail-of-canadian-politics-goar.html
Judge rules victim surcharge discriminates against people with mental disabilities:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/victim-surcharge-discriminates-against-those-with-mental-disabilities-judge-rules
Canada Revenue offered amnesty to wealthy KPMG clients in offshore tax ‘sham’:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-revenue-kpmg-secret-amnesty-1.3479594
- Secret tax deal for wealthy sparked anger inside Canada Revenue Agency: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/cra-kpmg-anger-at-secret-deal-1.3479792
- Canadians for Tax Fairness: CRA says “no problem” if you’re a rich tax dodger: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/news/youre-rich-tax-dodger-no-problem-says-cra
Fraser Institute study says raising the minimum wage won’t help reduce poverty:
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/03/03/fraser-institute-study-how-to-help-the-working-poor
- Surviving paycheque to paycheque means you don’t have permission to live: http://www.ywcaniagararegion.ca/blog/2016/02/26/surviving-paycheck-to-paycheck/
Ontario
Ontario Regional Chief says provincial budget fails First Nations:
https://tworowtimes.com/news/regional/ontario-chief-says-provincial-budget-fails-first-nations/
- Wellesley Institute says a good budget is a blueprint for good health: http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/health/a-good-budget-is-a-blueprint-for-health/
- Salutin: The good and the bad in Budget 2016: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/04/the-good-and-the-bad-in-ontarios-budget-salutin.html
Ontario parents fear government will close schools for children with learning disabilities:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/ontario-parents-fear-government-will-close-schools-for-learning-disabled/article29025059/
Parents and advocates say new childcare regulations will mean worse care:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/07/parents-and-advocates-balk-at-new-daycare-regulations.html
- Ontario daycare reforms will mess up social goals: http://www.lfpress.com/2016/03/09/ontario-daycare-reforms-will-mess-up-social-goals
Ontario Tories promise to repeal and refund contributions to the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/03/09/tories-promise-to-repeal-and-refund-contributions-to-ontario-retirement-pension-plan.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things
CCPA’s Alternative Federal Budget dares Liberals to think big:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/karl-nerenberg/2016/03/free-tuition-and-ambitious-tax-measures-alternative-budget-dar
- Alternative Federal Budget: Time to Move On: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/afb2016
StatsCan: public use microdata for EI coverage in 2014 now available:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160308/dq160308c-eng.htm
Around the Province
Thunder Bay pushing to be site of Ontario’s Basic Income pilot project:
http://www.netnewsledger.com/2016/02/28/thunder-bay-and-ontarios-basic-income-pilot-project/
- Petition gathers 500 signatures in three days: http://www.tbnewswatch.com/Artsentertainment/384243/Petition_for_minimum_income_project_in_Thunder_Bay_gaining_momentum
County of Simcoe welcomes boost to its budgets for human services:
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/county-services-get-budget-boost-from-province-203761
Niagara Regional Housing wants to crack down on fraud:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2016/03/10/regional-housing-wants-to-crack-down-on-fraud
Peterborough MPP says more investment needed in mental health services:
http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6385320-peterborough-mpp-says-more-investment-needed-in-mental-health/
The faces of homeless youth in Toronto:
http://m.thestar.com/#/article/news/gta/2015/10/19/faces-of-torontos-homeless-youth.html
Checking in on Regent Park’s revitalization:
http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2016/03/checking-regent-park-revitalization-progress
Daycare nightmare forces Toronto mom to take unpaid leave from work:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/07/daycare-nightmare-forces-mom-to-take-unpaid-leave.html
Free legal help for workplace violations comes to Toronto’s Jane-Finch:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/09/free-legal-help-for-workplace-violations-comes-to-jane-finch.html
Across the Country
Saskatchewan social services buys one-way bus tickets to BC for two men who are homeless:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2567494/reports-2-homeless-men-from-saskatchewan-given-one-way-bus-tickets-to-b-c/?sf22269175=1
- Workers at homeless shelter stunned by government’s move: http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/north-battleford-lighthouse-stunned-by-govts-purchase-of-one-way-bus-tickets-for-local-homeless
- The men arrive in Vancouver: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/homeless-saskatchewan-arrive-vancouver-1.3484511
Saskatchewan’s poor can’t afford to wait for Brad Wall’s help:
http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/saskatchewans-poor-cant-afford-to-wait-for-brad-walls-help
- Detailed plans are needed to reduce poverty: http://www.paherald.sk.ca/News/Local/2016-03-09/article-4461209/Detailed-plans-needed-to-reduce-poverty/1
More on BC’s move to increase disability benefits while cancelling free bus passes:
- Editorial: What giving people “choice” really means: http://www.burnabynow.com/opinion/editorial/our-view-what-more-choices-really-means-1.2190844#.dpuf
- Benefits for people with disabilities in BC are miserly: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/stephen+hume+benefits+disabled+downright+miserly/11768855/story.html?__lsa=205a-14e0
Seniors in BC can’t keep up with rising rents:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/seniors-can-t-keep-up-with-rising-rents-says-b-c-advocate-1.3454223
Government moves to evict Victoria tent-city residents:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/03/06/government-files-to-evict-victoria-tent-city-residents.html
Montreal legal clinic speaks out against ticketing people who are homeless:
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/legal-clinic-for-homeless-speaks-out-against-police-ticketing-practices-1.2802611
- Montreal man ticketed $110,000: http://www.vice.com/read/montreal-has-issued-110000-worth-of-fines-to-one-homeless-man
Temporary foreign worker from Mexico reaches settlement with owner of BC blueberry farm:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/temporary+foreign+worker+from+mexico+reaches+settlement+with+owner+langley+blueberry+farm/11774085/story.html
New Brunswick’s minimum wage now the lowest in Canada:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/new-brunswick/minimum-wage-new-brunswick-canada-1.3257659
National
How applying for EI can be a full-time job:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/frustrated-ei-applicant-calls-hundreds-of-times-never-gets-through-1.3480010
Canada and the world ride the long wave to GDP gloom:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/global-canada-gdp-kondratieff-cycle-1.3470714
- 2,300 jobs lost in February: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/february-jobs-advancer-1.3485603
Middle class injustice: Too wealthy for legal aid, too pinched for ‘average’ lawyers’ fees:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/legal-aid-middle-class-1.3476870
Goar: Why childcare keeps falling off the national agenda:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/11/child-care-canadas-elusive-dream-goar.html
How much can you fight inequality? Canada’s about to find out:
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-03-07/canada-s-answer-to-trump
Where your tax dollars were spent in 2014:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/taxes/multimedia/where-your-tax-dollar-was-spent-in-2014-15-1.3431849
Ottawa’s review of Temporary Foreign Workers Program must include migrant rights:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/kairos-canada/2016/03/ottawa-review-temporary-foreign-workers-must-include-migrant-r
- Migrant workers call on Trudeau to overhaul Temporary Foreign Worker program: http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/03/10/news/migrant-workers-call-trudeau-reform-temporary-foreign-worker-program
First Nations self-government overdue, says law expert:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/first-nations-government-law-1.3474834
Why not a national drug plan for seniors similar to CPP?:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/why-not-a-national-drug-plan-for-seniors-similar-to-cpp/article29036977/
Kingston woman inspires private members bill to give early parental leave to women in dangerous jobs:
http://www.thewhig.com/2016/02/29/kingston-woman-inspires-private-members-bill
Loblaws expanding program that gives 30% discount on imperfect fruits and vegetables:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loblaw-imperfect-grocery-1.3473996
International
Job losses gather momentum in multiple sectors across UK and Europe:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/18/job-losses-gather-momentum-uk-europe?CMP=share_btn_fb
Why the poor pay more for toilet paper, and just about everything else:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/03/08/why-the-poor-pay-more-for-toilet-paper-and-just-about-everything-else/
I’ve been homeless 3 times. The problem isn’t drugs or mental illness — it’s poverty:
http://www.vox.com/2016/3/8/11173304/homeless-in-america
After a life on welfare, a job changed everything:
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/i_didnt_know_i_could_work_after_a_life_on_welfare_a_job_changed_everything.html
Joblessness branded a mental illness:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-a3e3-Joblessness-branded-a-mental-illness#.Vtw9EmpOn2x
Obesity: stop accusing the poor of making bad choices:
http://theconversation.com/obesity-stop-accusing-the-poor-of-making-bad-choices-55801
Author / academic says “workless people breed children with job-resistant traits” so “welfare dependency can be bred out”:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/09/adam-perkins-welfare-dependency-can-be-bred-out
27 giant profitable companies that paid no tax:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2016/03/07/27-giant-profitable-companies-paid-no-taxes/81399094/