Ed. note: MPN will return on March 2
Top Stories
Not enough given to those in need in Ontario:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/not-enough-given-to-those-in-need/article_836a4634-08be-11e8-81ee-8370f919471a.html
I’ve been homeless 3 times. The problem isn’t drugs or mental illness – it’s poverty:
https://www.vox.com/2016/3/8/11173304/homeless-in-america
- Toronto’s homeless memorial honours in death those who struggled in life: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/02/09/homeless-memorial-honours-in-death-those-who-struggled-in-life.html
Why is there so much poverty in a rich country like Canada?:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/why-is-there-so-much-poverty-in-a-rich-country-like-canada-1.4524527
Legal clinic challenges part of Income Tax Act:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/author/alex-robinson/legal-clinic-challenges-part-of-income-tax-act-15319/
Canadian economy lost 88,000 jobs in January:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-employment-january-1.4527905
- Stats Can: Labour Force Survey, January 2018: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180209/dq180209a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
- Ontario sheds 59,000 part-time jobs in January as new $14 minimum wage begins: http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/ontario-sheds-59k-part-time-jobs-in-jan-as-new-14-minimum-wage-begins
- Here’s a quick look at unemployment rates for January, by Canadian city: http://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/heres-a-quick-glance-at-unemployment-rates-for-january-by-canadian-city
Governments could save billions by introducing universal pharmacare:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/02/06/opinion/governments-could-save-billions-introducing-universal-pharmacare
Leaders who truly support #MeToo should prove it at Budget time:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/jessica-mustachi/leaders-who-truly-support-metoo-should-prove-it-at-budget-time_a_23355814/
For women of colour, there’s a gap within the pay gap:
http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/for-women-of-colour-theres-a-gap-within-the-pay-gap/
Child support clawback for parents on income assistance in Nova Scotia could end in spring:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/child-support-clawback-parents-income-assistance-spring-1.4512521
BC to increase minimum wage over three years to get to $15.20:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/b-c-to-raise-minimum-wage-over-three-years-to-get-to-15-20-1.3795471
- $15 minimum wage not coming soon enough: BC Federation of Labour: https://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/67427/15-minimum-wage-not-coming-soon-enough-bcfed/
- It’s a tough pill to swallow: Penticton small business owner decries minimum wage hike: https://globalnews.ca/news/4015024/its-a-tough-pill-to-swallow-penticton-small-business-owner-decries-minimum-wage-hike/
- Premier says minimum wage hike to $15.20 by 2021 will keep BC competitive: http://www.theprovince.com/news/national/raise+minimum+wage+2021/16953278/story.html
Ugly, awful secret”: Ontario dentists are ducking some patients – and they say they have no choice:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/healthy-smile-cost-money-1.4525204
Hamilton politicians keep paper transit tickets as they are used by people on social assistance:
https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/8094803-hamilton-politicians-accept-presto-card-and-paper-ticket-for-hsr/
There’s no excuse for homeless deaths:
https://debatereport.com/world/theres-no-excuse-for-homeless-deaths/4883
First Nations looking to create independent health care system in Ontario:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/anishnabek-health-care-1.4513449
Ground-breaking Nova Scotia case seeks to make supported homes for disabled declared a right:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/human-rights-case-disabled-institution-supported-homes-1.4519077
As personal use evictions appear to spike in Toronto, tenants suspicious of landlord cash grabs:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/personal-use-evictions-1.4530383
Medical bills a contributing factor in one-fifth of Nova Scotia bankruptcies: Analysis:
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/medical-bills-a-contributing-factor-in-one-fifth-of-ns-bankruptcies-analysis-832034
Does the government make it too hard for people with disabilities to work?
https://globalnews.ca/news/4006292/disabilities-employment-canada-social-assistance/
- Conservative bill targets clawback of disabilities benefits: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/proposed-conservative-bill-targets-clawback-of-disabilities-benefits/article37851566/
Canada’s immigration program for migrant caregivers under review:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2018/02/05/canadas-immigration-program-for-migrant-caregivers-under-review.html
Is the Liberals’ affordable housing plan a “monstrous failure”?
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/is-the-liberals-affordable-housing-plan-a-monstrous-failure
Ontario’s new standard lease could crack down on “wild west” rental agreements:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-standard-lease-1.4524570
- Government release: Ontario introduces new easy-to-understand standard lease: https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2018/02/ontario-introduces-new-easy-to-understand-standard-lease.html
Op-ed: What Trudeau’s next step toward fighting racial discrimination must be:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/02/07/what-trudeaus-next-step-toward-fighting-racial-discrimination-must-be.html
Reports cite heavy toll of legal problems on Canadian society:
https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/5744/reports-cite-heavy-toll-of-legal-problems-on-canadian-society
Ontario
Province finds mercury-contaminated soil and possibly buried metal on Dryden site upstream from Grassy Narrows:
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2018/02/05/province-finds-mercury-contaminated-soil-and-possibly-buried-metal-on-dryden-site-upstream-from-grassy-narrows.html
Lack of funding for new cancer claims “devastating” GE Peterborough workers say:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/01/30/lack-of-funding-for-new-cancer-claims-devastating-ge-peterborough-workers-say.html
Statement form Minister of Energy regarding Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan:
https://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2018/02/statement-from-minister-of-energy-regarding-ontarios-fair-hydro-plan.html
WSIB has now accepted 36 previously rejected Peterborough General Electric health claims:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2018/01/30/wsib-has-now-accepted-36-previously-rejected-peterborough-general-electric-health-claims
Government release: Ontario expanding early years programming for Indigenous children:
https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2018/02/ontario-expanding-early-years-programming-for-indigenous-children.html
Government release: Ontario investing in energy efficient improvements for social housing:
https://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2018/02/ontario-investing-in-energy-efficient-improvements-for-social-housing.html
Government release: Premier kicks off tour of Ontario college and university campuses:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/02/premier-kicks-off-tour-of-ontario-college-and-university-campuses.html
Election 2018
Former Horwath supporter enters race for Hamilton Centre riding as a Liberal:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/former-horwath-supporter-enters-race-for-hamilton-centre-riding-as-a-liberal/article37869655/?click=sf_globefb
- “Disheartened” NDP voter seeks Liberal nomination for Hamilton Centre: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/deirdre-pike-liberal-nomination-hamilton-centre-1.4518614
- This election, I’m doing more than voting: https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8105678-this-election-i-m-doing-more-than-voting/
Ontario PC race: Polls explore how voters view leadership hopefuls:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-ontario-pcs-polls-1.4520530
Why Doug Ford has a good shot at becoming Ontario PC leader:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/02/07/why-doug-ford-has-a-good-shot-at-becoming-ontario-pc-leader.html
Dropping Brown has helped Ontario tories: Poll:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/02/12/dropping-brown-has-helped-ontario-tories-poll.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
February 13, show love for Tim Horton’s workers and workers rights:
https://mailchi.mp/workersactioncentre/show-love-for-tim-hortons-workers-and-workers-rights?e=49c443a217
Social Assistance Survey on your experience with ODSP or Ontario Works:
https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=151327088657
Petition: Pharmacare: A plan for everyone:
http://www.aplanforeveryone.ca/mp
RNAO petition: Save lives by opening 1000 new shelter beds in Toronto in 2018:
http://rnao.ca/policy/action-alerts/Save-lives-by-opening-1000-new-shelter-beds-in-2018
Dignity for All: Living in the Gap: A snapshot of precarity in Canada:
https://dignityforall.ca/living-in-the-gap-infographics/
Bolton Feb 12: Free legal training on human rights and ODSP:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/sites/all/files/Human%20Rights%20and%20ODSP%20flyer.pdf
Toronto Mar 1: Free legal information session for international students:
http://www.migrantworkersalliance.org/free-legal-information-session-for-international-students/
Maytree newsletter January 31:
https://mailchi.mp/maytree/maytree-newsletter-april-477435?e=2df3fde692
On the Radar: Better employment standards for workers in Ontario:
https://mailchi.mp/cleo/on-the-radar-better-employment-standards-for-workers-in-ontario?e=6e96540544
Around the Province
Rental licensing in Windsor defeated at Council but beefed up enforcement approved:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/rental-licensing-defeated-5-4-but-beefed-up-enforcement-approved
New Guelph-based organization aims to support workers injured on the job:
https://www.guelphmercury.com/community-story/8102701-new-guelph-based-organization-aims-to-support-workers-injured-on-the-job/
Why Hamilton needs a Mental Health Court:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8105459-why-hamilton-needs-a-mental-health-court/
“This is the one way we can actually fight back”: More tenants in Parkdale stage rent strike:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/this-is-the-one-way-we-can-actually-fight-back-more-tenants-in-parkdale-stage-rent-strike-1.4515273
- Parkdale rent strike brings attention to affordable housing: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-communiqu%C3%A9/2018/02/parkdale-rent-strike-brings-attention-affordable-housing
New Toronto research hub to focus on developmental disabilities and mental illness:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/new-toronto-research-hub-to-focus-on-developmental-disabilities-and-mental-illness-1.4519803
Op-Ed: Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods – and of neighbours who support our most vulnerable:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/02/01/toronto-is-a-city-of-neighbourhoods-and-of-neighbours-who-support-our-most-vulnerable.html
Across the Country
Halifax Council looking at taking back social housing portfolio from the province; debate support for basic income:
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/councillor-wants-report-on-taking-over-housing-from-the-province-823787
Bolder solutions needed for income assistance in Nova Scotia:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/editorials/1544028-editorial-bolder-solutions-needed-for-income-assistance
Seasonal workers in New Brunswick complain of same EI ‘black hole’ as northern workers:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kings-landing-seasonal-workers-employment-insurance-challenges-1.4526734
Advocates fear Vancouver Downtown Eastside police crackdown pushes drug users into shadows:
http://vancouversun.com/health/local-health/advocates-vancouver-police-sweeps-put-drug-users-in-danger
Raising BC’s minimum wage is good for public health:
http://www.policynote.ca/raising-the-minimum-wage-is-good-for-public-health/
BC eliminates prescription deductibles for families with incomes under $30,000:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-pharmacare-changes-2018-1.4528807
Vancouverites set to take to the streets demanding action on housing, crackdown on lawbreaking in real estate:
https://thinkpol.ca/2018/02/06/vancouverites-set-take-streets-demanding-action-housing-crackdown-lawbreaking-real-estate/
National
Despite low unemployment, young people say finding a job is as difficult as ever:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/jobs-students-employers-1.4525127
Opinion: Raising the Basic Personal Amount – not the minimum wage – is the way to help low-income workers:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/basic-personal-amount-1.4529110
Disabled veterans take appeal to Supreme Court on pension battle:
http://www.manitoulin.ca/2018/02/09/disabled-veterans-take-appeal-supreme-court-pension-battle/
NDP and Conservatives call on Ottawa to end corporate tax loopholes:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/01/24/ndp-and-conservatives-call-on-ottawa-to-end-corporate-tax-loopholes.html
“A whole pile of uncertainties”: Trade, politics expected to hang like a dark cloud over the economy:
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/a-whole-pile-of-uncertainties-trade-politics-expected-to-hang-like-a-dark-cloud-over-the-economy
International
Home Depot’s bonuses underscore what workers get out of the corporate tax cut: Peanuts:
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-home-depot-bonus-20180130-story.html
What we talk about when we talk about pay inequity:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/business/wage-gap-gender-discrimination.html?smid=fb-share
German union wins right to 28-hour working week and 4.3% pay raise:
https://www.ft.com/content/e7f0490e-0b1c-11e8-8eb7-42f857ea9f09
The median young family in the USA has nearly zero wealth:
http://peoplespolicyproject.org/2018/02/05/the-median-young-family-has-nearly-zero-wealth/
As robots take our jobs, we need something else. I know what that is:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/07/robots-jobs-salaried-work-society-unpaid-george-monbiot?CMP=share_btn_fb
This year’s Gerber baby has Down syndrome:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/health/gerber-down-1.4524930
These foreign workers say they were told by their US employers to pick blueberries unless they were on their “death bed”:
https://www.motherjones.com/food/2018/02/blueberry-pickers-guest-worker-visas-threats-lawsuit/
Minimum wage boosted to $15 at New Jersey bank:
http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2018/02/minimum_wage_boosted_to_15_at_nj_bank.html
US hiring accelerates; annual wage growth strongest since 2009:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/us-hiring-accelerates-annual-wage-growth-strongest-since-2009/article37828710/
Australia saves $1.4 billion in 18 months since welfare crackdown:
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2018-02-11/government-saves-14b-in-18-months-since-welfare-crackdown/1735328
Australia welfare changes to disadvantage family violence victims, advocates say:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/welfare-changes-to-disadvantage-family-violence-victims-advocates-say-20180210-p4yzxq.html