Top Stories
Doctors frustrated workers’ compensation boards seem to ignore medical opinions, report says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/09/doctors-frustrated-workers-compensation-boards-seem-to-ignore-medical-opinions-report-says.html
Tax loopholes that bankroll CEO salaries with taxpayer’s money should be closed:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dennis-howlett/ceo-salaries-tax-loopholes_b_13974124.html
- Star editorial: Economic challenges test Trudeau’s promise of more progressive path: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/01/09/economic-challenges-test-trudeaus-promise-of-more-progressive-path-editorial.html
- Liberals to close tax loopholes for the rich, Trudeau says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/01/12/liberals-to-close-tax-loopholes-for-the-rich-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-says.html - Take action on Trudeau’s promise to close the stock options tax loophole: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/action/keep-your-promise-close-stock-option-tax-loophole
Federal government ponders creating new housing benefit for low-income renters:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/federal-government-ponders-creating-new-housing-benefit-for-low-income-renters-1.3237821
- Yale First Nation in BC partners with modular building company for new affordable, green homes:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/01/09/First-Nation-Active-Passive-Housing/
Family, friends question why Saskatoon woman froze to death:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-woman-questions-froze-death-1.3931273?cmp=abfb
What should be done to make Ontario electricity rates more affordable:
http://canadafactcheck.ca/reducing-ontario-electricity-rates/
- Why does Ontario’s electricity cost so much? A reality check: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-does-electricity-cost-so-much-in-ontario/article33453270/?click=sf_globefb
- Some info about the role of renewable energy: http://www.100reontario.org/faq.php
- Financial Accountability Officer’s report has stats on spending by consumers on energy by energy type and income: http://www.fao-on.org/web/default/files/commentaries/1618%20home%20energy%20regional/Home%20Energy%20Spending%20Regional.pdf
- Hydro cost complaint to Premier Wynne sparks online uproar: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/windsor/hydro-costs-windsor-plea-1.3931530
CBC’s The Current: Ontario considers the benefits of basic minimum income:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-january-6-2016-1.3923883/ontario-considers-the-benefits-of-basic-minimum-income-1.3923916
- Kingston basic income consultation this past Monday: Minister Ballard says basic income is part of the poverty debate: http://www.thewhig.com/2017/01/09/basic-income-part-of-poverty-debate
- Kingston consultation: Local MPP says the issue is very complex: http://www.thewhig.com/2017/01/08/group-seeks-views-on-basic-income-pilot-project
- Kingston: Pilot program aims to help those living in poverty: http://www.ckwstv.com/2017/01/09/142145/
- Sault Ste. Marie consultation: Basic income discussion set for next week: http://www.saultstar.com/2017/01/10/poverty-reduction-discussions-set-for-sault
- Kenora consultation: Consultation set for January 17: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2017/01/09/public-consultation-on-basic-income-pilot-in-kenora-on-jan-17
- ISAC and ODSP Action Coalition: Basic Income consultations: Key Issues for people on OW and ODSP: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/basic-income-pilot-consultations-key-issues-for-people-on-ow-and-odsp/
- Ontario to test a guaranteed basic income, but which town will be the guinea pig?: http://www.cantechletter.com/2017/01/ontario-test-guaranteed-basic-income-town-will-guinea-pig/
- Smiths Falls residents demand support from local councillors to be basic income pilot site: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/basic-income-smiths-falls-1.3928610
- Greater Sudbury interested in taking part as pilot project site: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/city-interested-in-basic-income-pilot-project-506448
- Andrew Coyne: The basics of a guaranteed basic income: http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/andrew-coyne-the-basics-of-a-guaranteed-basic-income
- John A. Macdonald would have supported a basic income policy: http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/7058890-john-a-macdonald-would-have-supported-a-basic-income-policy/
- Public conversation on basic income set for Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/valleyharvester/1430961-poverty-%E2%80%98it%E2%80%99s-a-growing-national-conversation%E2%80%99 - Basic Income: Progressive dreams meet neoliberal realities: http://rankandfile.ca/2017/01/12/basic-income-progressive-dreams-meet-neoliberal-realities/
Overwhelming interest from Ottawa residents in non-profit alternative to payday loans:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/causeway-financial-fund-alternative-payday-loans-1.3925469
Full-time work declined in 2016: Statistics Canada report:
http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/full-time-work-faded-in-2016-statistics-canada-1.3230076
Politudes: Proposal for a Canadian National Goal for Poverty Reduction:
https://politudes.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/proposal-for-a-canadian-national-goal-for-poverty-reduction-2017-2027/
Migrant worker wins human rights case over his firing:
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20170113/281586650289881
McGill course teaches law students Indigenous legal traditions:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/mcgill-university-law-students-indigenous-legal-1.3930600
Trudeau shuffles the federal cabinet – here’s the new list:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/justin-trudeau-cabinet-list-2017/article33561688/
- Prime Minister’s Statement: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/01/10/statement-prime-minister-canada-changes-ministry
- Immigrant rights groups lay out agenda for incoming ministers: http://migrantrights.ca/en/immigrant-rights-groups-lay-out-agenda-for-incoming-ministers/
Ontario
Cabinet shuffle, January 12, sees new Women’s Issues and Seniors Affairs ministries:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/01/marie-france-lalonde-ontarios-new-minister-of-community-safety-and-correctional-services
ODSP caseloads have been rising, due largely to an increase in mental health:
http://www.thelondoner.ca/2017/01/11/odsp-cases-on-the-rise-as-link-between-poverty-and-mental-health-strengthens
ISAC: Increase won to ODSP / OW medical travel mileage rate:
http://incomesecurity.org/litigation/increase-won-to-odsp-ow-medical-travel-mileage-rate/
- Government bulletin: Ontario increasing mileage rates for social assistance recipients: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2017/01/ontario-increasing-mileage-rates-for-social-assistance-recipients.html
ISAC: Full child support exemption for parents on OW and ODSP coming this month:
http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/full-child-support-exemption-for-parents-on-ow-and-odsp-coming-this-month-exemption-complete-des-pensions-alimentaires-pour-enfants-des-ce-mois-ci/
Forced labour in restaurant kitchens is no joke:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-food-chain/forced-labour-in-restaurant-kitchens-is-no-joke
Ten things you can do this year for a hunger-free Ontario:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/hunger-free-ontario_b_14055762.html
Financial Accountability Office says Ontario must cut $2.8 billion from health funding to balance the budget:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/01/10/ontario-health-care-budget-cuts.html
Legal Aid Ontario’s funding shortages impact immigration, tenancy and disability law too:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/legal-aid-s-immigration-refugee-tenancy-disability-reasonable-doubt/
Mercury tainted soil from upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation:
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2017/01/12/mercury-tainted-soil-found-upstream-from-grassy-narrows-first-nation.html
Ontario Nonprofit Network: Can charities and nonprofits help heal social division?:
http://theonn.ca/can-charities-nonprofits-help-heal-social-division/
Government release: Ontario economy continues to grow in third quarter of 2016:
https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2017/01/ontario-economy-continues-to-grow-in-third-quarter-of-2016.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
ISAC’s pre-budget submission on $1 billion for social assistance – read it and support it, if you can:
http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/1-billion-for-ow-odsp-isacs-2017-pre-budget-submission-1-milliard-de-dollars-pour-ot-le-posph-soumission-prebudgetaire-2017-du-casr/
CCPA report: Predatory Lending: A survey of high interest alternative financial service users:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/predatory-lending
Ontario Non-Profit Network is hiring a Decent Work Project Lead:
http://connectjobs.ca/job/decent-work-project-lead/
Jan 17 author talk in Toronto: Toronto’s Poor – A Rebellious History:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Em=1&Entt=RDMEVT259158&R=EVT259158
Jan 18 Webinar: Poverty & Housing in Canada:
https://www.cpj.ca/webinar-poverty-housing-canada
Stats Can: New housing price index, November 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170112/dq170112a-eng.htm
Around the Province
St. Thomas bus pass pilot project starts February:
http://www.theweeklynews.ca/news-story/7057288-bus-pass-pilot-project-starts-february/
Ontario commits to funding 3 supervised safe injection sites in Toronto:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3169269/ontario-commits-to-funding-3-supervised-safe-injection-sites-in-toronto/
Millions in grants for needy students in the Toronto District School Board aren’t getting to them:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/12/millions-in-grants-for-needy-students-arent-getting-to-them-report-says.html
- Here’s the Social Planning Toronto report: http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/new_report_finds_61_million_in_provincial_funding_for_low_income_toronto_students_being_diverted
Toronto Public Health collecting data on the deaths of people who are homeless:
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/public-health-collecting-more-data-on-homeless-deaths-in-toronto-1.3234988
Unique program to help First Nations people navigate the justice system recognized in Sarnia:
http://thesarniajournal.ca/humble-advocates-idea-spreading-across-ontario/
Welland homeless shelters are full, but one centre makes room:
http://www.pelhamnews.ca/2017/01/08/always-room-for-people-in-need
What will the City of Toronto’s budget cost – and who will it impact most?
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/01/02/what-will-the-citys-2017-budget-cost-us.html
City of Toronto warming centre defended as necessary “so people don’t die on our streets”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/neighbourhood-surprised-when-city-opens-homeless-warming-station-next-to-a-school-1.3928433
GoFundMe campaign launched to keep Guelph’s Out of Poverty Society operating:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/poverty-guelph-gofundme-1.3924981
Average home price in the GTA jumped 20% in 2016:
http://homesmag.com/average-gta-home-price-jumped-20-in-2016/
Toronto Mayor Tory’s move to privatize garbage collection is “not about ideology”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-garbage-announcement-1.3930529
Residents speak out on Toronto’s 2017 city budget at Scarborough Civic Centre:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7053368-residents-speak-out-on-2017-city-budget-at-scarborough-civic-centre/
Labour and business in Thunder Bay welcome new federal Minister of Labour:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/labour-business-welcome-hajdus-appointment-507363
Across the Country
Edmonton single mom pleads for a pest-free home:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmonton/family-pleads-for-pest-free-home-1.3925687
Calgary area employment income down over $800 million in 2016:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/01/08/calgary-area-employment-income-down-over-800-million-in-2016
Income assistance keeps Manitobans at 50-70 per cent of poverty line: Protesters:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/manitoba/income-assistance-keeps-manitobans-at-50-70-per-cent-of-poverty-line-protesters-1.3925158
- Lobby group to Manitoba government: Make poverty a priority: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/01/06/lobby-group-to-tories-make-poverty-a-priority
Nova Scotia’s Human Rights Commission ordered to reconsider special diet case:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/special-diet-discrimination-social-assistance-1.3930951
Lack of affordable housing puts Sydney, Nova Scotia shelter in crunch:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sydney-shelter-women-children-stays-1.3928115
PEI government neglecting baby by not paying social assistance benefit to father for formula:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/2017/1/6/p–e-i–government–neglecting–five-week-old-baby.html
Nunavut poverty reduction secretariat looks to add two new members:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/poverty-roundtable-nunavut-1.3931665
BC jobs plan not enough to address high poverty rate, says CCPA-BC:
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-jobs-plan-not-enough-to-address-high-poverty-rate-think-tank-1.7213353
- BC’s poverty rate is second highest in Canada: New report calls again for a poverty reduction plan: http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/bc-home-canada-s-second-highest-poverty-rate
- Poverty reduction supporter sets BC election target: http://www.news1130.com/2017/01/11/poverty-reduction-supporter-sets-bc-election-target/
City workers in Port Coquitlam, BC, now earn a living wage:
http://www.tricitynews.com/news/port-coquitlam-city-workers-now-earn-a-living-wage-1.7171888
Richmond, BC, votes to ban short-term rentals like Airbnb despite new rules:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/richmond-bc-votes-to-ban-short-term-rentals/article33573930/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe
BC homeowner grant doesn’t distinguish between rich and poor:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/01/10/homeowner-grant-doesnt-distinguish-between-rich-and-poor.html
National
Ottawa projecting decades of deficits:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-projects-decades-of-deficits-as-federal-finances-worsen/article33512275/
Higher inflation in 2017 will cost average Canadian extra $1600 this year:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/01/12/inflation-canada_n_14135516.html
Canada’s economy is off to a “strong start” in 2017 – can we keep it up?:
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/economy/canadas-economy-is-off-to-a-strong-start-in-2017-can-we-keep-it-up/
International
Research in California shows $15 minimum wage has big impact on pay, none on jobs:
http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/01/11/research-zeroing-in-on-fresno-shows-15-california-minimum-wage-has-big-impact-on-pay-none-on-jobs/
Higher Seattle minimum wage hasn’t hurt restaurant jobs growth after a year:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2017/01/07/seattle-restaurant-jobs-keep-growing-with-higher-minimum-wages-after-a-year/#470f50f21e9f
Oregon woman evicted from senior housing for $338 in late rent freezes to death in parking garage:
http://usuncut.com/news/oregon-woman-evicted-senior-housing-328-late-rent-freezes-death-parking-garage/
GOP legislators in Arizona plan to limit citizen initiatives and roll back minimum wage hike:
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/other-gop-issues-limit-citizen-initiatives-roll-back-minimum-wage/article_1133a709-9a27-5ecc-a0e4-9a065ca94a47.html
Final jobs report under Obama underscores complicated legacy:
http://nypost.com/2017/01/06/final-jobs-report-under-obama-underscores-complicated-legacy/
Spain increases its minimum wage:
http://www.theleader.info/2017/01/09/minimum-wage-increased-23-50-euros-per-day/
Mexico raises minimum wage to cushion impact of fuel price increase:
http://www.nearshoreamericas.com/mexico-raises-daily-minimum-wage-10/
Australia’s automated social assistance payment reconciliation system delivers “a summer from hell”:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/09/ombudsman-launches-investigation-into-centrelink-debt-recovery-crisis?CMP=soc_567
Ration days again: Australia’s cashless welfare card ignites shame:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/09/ration-days-again-cashless-welfare-card-ignites-shame
Cashless welfare card treats Aboriginal people as third-class citizens:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/10/cashless-welfare-card-treats-aboriginal-people-third-class-citizens
Australian welfare charity slams poverty shaming: https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2017/01/welfare-charity-slams-poverty-shaming/
The most bizarre excuses for not paying the UK minimum wage revealed:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/revealed-most-bizarre-excuses-for-underpaying-staff-the-national-minimum-wage
UK welfare minister “happy to look at” making benefit assessors wear cameras to prove tests are fair:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-welfare-minister-happy-look-9592547
Households on welfare in Japan hit record high for third month:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/01/11/national/households-welfare-japan-hit-record-high-third-month/#.WHj4NX1WLeQ