Top Stories
Policy Options: Ontario social assistance doesn’t meet basic human needs:
http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/september-2016/ontario-social-assistance-doesnt-meet-basic-human-needs/
- It’s time to Fix the Gap: http://us13.campaign-archive2.com/?u=13c865f393dec37301b8e7cf5&id=8d5f92705a&e=ed1a261b05
- NDP MPP tables social assistance bill again: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6858413-ndp-tables-social-assistance-bill-again/
- MPPs sort food to raise awareness of hunger in Ontario: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/mpps-sort-food-raise-awareness-hunger-ontario-support-hunger-action-month-2159072.htm
- Op-Ed: Government should increase social assistance rates now: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/09/12/lets-break-the-cycle-of-endless-studies-and-consultations.html
Ontario Throne Speech – government announcement:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/09/throne-speech-announces-electricity-cost-relief-new-child-care-spaces.html
- Throne Speech gets mixed reviews: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2016/09/12/throne-speech-gets-mixed-reviews
- Ontario parents welcome new focus on daycare: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/09/12/ontario-parents-welcome-new-focus-on-daycare.html
- Analysis from Sheila Block: Heat over hydro dominates Ontario throne speech: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/09/12/heat-hydro-dominates-ontario-throne-speech/
- Wynne announces 8% HST cut from hydro bills in throne speech: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/09/12/wynne-announces-8-per-cent-hst-cut-from-hydro-bills-in-throne-speech.html
- High Ontario hydro rates targeted in Hamilton protest September 28: http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/6849644-high-ontario-hydro-rates-targeted-in-hamilton-protest-sept-28/#.V9Q5JDMIBlQ.facebook
- Cohn: Ontario Liberals profiting from the politics of hydro tax cuts: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/09/12/ontario-liberals-profiting-from-the-politics-of-hydro-tax-cuts-cohn.html
- Backgrounder: Electricity rate relief for Ontario consumers: https://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2016/09/electricity-rate-relief-for-ontario-consumers.html
- Backgrounder: Existing programs to reduce electricity costs for consumers and businesses: https://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2016/09/existing-programs-to-reduce-electricity-costs-for-consumers-and-businesses.html
- Release: Ontario introducing measures to reduce electricity costs: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/09/ontario-introducing-measures-to-reduce-electricity-costs.html
- Hydro offset not enough to help struggling families: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-bill-plan-1.3759446
- Lorinc: Housing affordability, not hydro bills, is what’s really hurting Ontario: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2016/09/14/lorinc-housing-affordability-no-hydro-bills-whats-really-hurting-ontario/
- Star Editorial: Ontario offers some good news and some good politics: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/09/12/ontario-offers-some-good-news-and-some-good-politics-editorial.html
- Hydro rebate criticized for doing little to stem cost of electricity: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/09/13/liberals-hydro-rebate-criticized-for-doing-little-to-stem-cost-of-electricity.html
- Most rural Ontario hydro customers to see new increases, despite rebate: http://globalnews.ca/news/2937675/rural-hydro-customers-to-see-new-increases-despite-rebate/
Province makes accessing ODSP easier for adults and kids with developmental disabilities:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/09/09/easier-path-to-cash-for-adults-kids-with-disabilities.html
- Government release: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2016/09/ontario-making-access-to-services-easier-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities.html
Canada: Foreign farm workers demand permanent status:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/09/canada-foreign-farm-workers-demand-permanent-status-160910125725983.html
- Ottawa urged to grant permanent status to migrant workers upon arrival: https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2016/09/11/ottawa-urged-to-grant-permanent-status-to-migrant-workers-upon-arrival.html
- The murky world of the agencies that recruit temporary foreign workers: http://www.theprovince.com/news/canada/murky+world+agencies+that+recruit+temporary+foreign+workers/12191327/story.html
- How the temporary foreign worker program is shaping Canada’s underground economy: http://calgaryherald.com/news/national/canadas-temporary-foreign-worker-program-shaping-underground-economy
- It’s time to stop abuse of temporary farm workers: http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/6855974-d-amato-it-s-time-to-stop-abuse-of-temporary-farm-workers/
- Infographic: The high cost of a job in Canada: http://calgaryherald.com/news/national/infographic-the-high-cost-of-a-job-in-canada
WSIB policy pushes hurt workers into humiliating jobs and unemployment:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/12/wsib-policy-pushes-hurt-workers-into-humiliating-jobs-and-unemployment-critics-say.html
Behind the Numbers: New child benefit is good, not great:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/09/14/new-child-benefit-good-not-great/
Alberta makes $15 minimum wage regulations official:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/13/alberta-makes-15-minimum-wage-regulations-official.html
No longer homeless: How Buddy and Maureen went from sleeping in a field to a new apartment:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/no-longer-homeless-1.3758994
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal issues second Compliance Order against government of Canada on First Nations child welfare:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/cnw/release.html?rkey=20160915C8588&filter=5599#.V9saPIxPagM.twitter
Destabilizing tenancy rights is not the solution to Ontario’s housing shortage:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/57d81517e4b0d93d17700b75?timestamp=147378003
How can people afford this? James Bay communities struggle to eat healthy:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/james-bay-coast-high-food-prices-study-1.3756824
Minister Duclos: A social policy theorist faces the trade-off between what’s possible and what’s ideal:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/wherry-jean-yves-duclos-1.3755690
Ontario
Government release: Ontario establishes portable housing benefit pilot program to help survivors of domestic violence:
https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2016/09/ontario-establishes-portable-housing-benefit-to-help-survivors-of-domestic-violence.html
- List of participating communities: https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2016/09/communities-participating-in-new-portable-housing-benefit-pilot-for-survivors-of-domestic-violence.html
It’s now easier for tenants in abusive relationships to break leases in Ontario:
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/its-now-easier-for-tenants-in-abusive-relationships-to-break-leases-in-ontario
- Fleeing faster: New Ontario provision allows domestic and sexual abuse victims to break rentals early: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fleeing-faster-new-ontario-provision-allows-domestic-and-sexual-abuse-victims-to-break-rentals-early-1.3760958
- Changes to Residential Tenancy Act for survivors of sexual and domestic violence: http://www.settlementatwork.org/_news_/111052
Ministry of Labour: Minimum Wage increase as of October 1:
https://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/guide/minwage.php
Government release: Full-day kindergarten reaches more than one million students:
https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2016/09/full-day-kindergarten-reaches-more-than-one-million-ontario-students.html
Government release: Ontario adds 10,500 jobs in August:
https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2016/09/ontario-adds-10500-jobs-in-august.html
Underfunding brings isolation for people with developmental disabilities:
http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/6853499-underfunding-brings-isolation-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities/
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
New social assistance rates start September 30 – here’s ISAC’s rates sheet to explain:
http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/ow-and-odsp-rates-and-the-ocb-2016/
Action Alert: October 1 $15 and Fairness event at Queen’s Park:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=ca22c2aaaf&e=51059eb750
Ten things to know about Canada’s national housing strategy consultations:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/09/15/10-things-know-canadas-national-housing-strategy-consultations/
Homeless Hub: Newsletter this week:
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=61233be4a0bcc87d8977b631e&id=89e3413e08&e=6da7d6f883
Research Paper: The very poor and the affordability of housing:
http://homelesshub.ca/resource/very-poor-and-affordability-housing
Calgary Homelessness Foundation: National Housing Strategy Brief:
http://homelesshub.ca/resource/calgary-homeless-foundation-national-housing-strategy-brief
Report shows raising GIS earnings exemption would help most low-income seniors:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/raising-gis-earning-exemption-would-help-most-low-income-seniors-report-says-1.3074007
Guelph& Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination event: Can a Basic Income Guarantee eliminate poverty?:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/can-a-basic-income-guarantee-eliminate-poverty-tickets-27676336668
EI Commission announces 2017 premium rate and maximum insurable earnings:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1124559
Around the Province
$10 bag of potatoes: Northern Ontario aboriginals spend more than half of income on food:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/10-for-bag-of-potatoes-northern-ont-aboriginals-spend-more-than-half-of-income-on-food-1.3068160?autoPlay=true
Carleton researchers say City of Ottawa is balancing its books on the backs of the poor:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/city-balancing-budget-on-the-backs-of-the-poor-researchers-claim
Appeal Court rules City of Toronto failed vulnerable tenants:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/09/12/appeal-court-rules-city-of-toronto-failed-vulnerable-tenants.html
The hidden pockets in Toronto where gentrification is really happening:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/09/13/the-hidden-pockets-in-toronto-where-gentrification-is-really-happening.html
Toronto’s problem? Our public sector is poor while our private sector is booming:
http://torontoist.com/2016/09/torontos-problem-public-sector-poor-private-sector-rich/
Across the Country
Yukon’s social assistance policy keeps women in abusive relationships:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-social-assistance-women-abusive-relationships-1.3762641
Cape Breton Regional Municipality mayoral candidate points finger at child poverty:
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2016-08-26/article-4625942/Cape-Breton-Regional-Municipality-mayoral-candidate-points-finger-at-child-poverty/1
Minimum wage families in Manitoba further in poverty under Pallister government:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2016/09/13/no-minimum-wage-increase-in-manitoba.html
Syrian refugees in Moose Jaw give back by helping with the harvest at a community food farm:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/09/09/syrian-refugees-help-saskatchewan-food-farm-do-something-for-canada.html
Editor’s column: BC’s assistance rates shows our own disability:
http://www.richmond-news.com/opinion/columnists/editor-s-column-assistance-rates-shows-our-own-disability-1.2340472
Op-Ed: BC government should craft poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-province-should-craft-poverty-reduction-strategy-1.2331656
BC employment programs for people with disabilities going unused:
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2016/09/12/programs-unused-for-people-with-disabilities
Success of BC’s “welfare to work” policies vastly exaggerated:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/09/15/BC-Liberal-Welfare-to-Work/
Negative reaction to BC Liberals’ disability bus pass increase:
http://www.cheknews.ca/negative-reaction-liberals-increase-disability-bus-passes-217752/
Small minimum-wage increase is a reason to talk about a BC poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.straight.com/news/782996/small-minimum-wage-increase-reason-talk-about-bc-poverty-reduction-strategy-advocate
National
IMF head Christine Lagarde says Canada should boost growth by helping women in the labour market:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-lagarde/to-boost-growth-employ-mo_b_12010054.html
CPP changes do little to ensure appropriate income for future retirees:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/governance-law/cpp-enhancement-does-little-to-ensure-appropriate-retirement-income-for-future-generations-86487
Canadian pensions rank among the top global plans:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/db/canadian-pensions-rank-among-the-top-global-plans-report-87301
Solitary confinement can be deadly for mentally ill inmates:
http://www.yukon-news.com/news/solitary-confinement-can-be-deadly-for-mentally-ill-inmates-watchdog-says/
Canadian cities help undocumented migrants as Ottawa deports them:
http://www.windsorstar.com/news/canada/canadian+cities+help+undocumented+migrants+ottawa+deports/12191349/story.html
StatsCan to tally number of contract, part-time professors:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/statistics-canada-to-tally-number-of-contract-part-time-professors/article31922546/
Angus Reid: Two-in-three Canadians approve of PM Justin Trudeau:
http://angusreid.org/federal-issues-sept2016/
International
Why thousands of people signed petitions to investigate Apple’s tax strategies:
http://fortune.com/2016/09/08/apple-tax-petitions/
- Could Europe’s tax fight with Apple affect other businesses?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/could-europes-tax-fight-with-apple-affect-other-businesses/article31782195/
- Shed a tear for poor, put-upon Apple: http://ipolitics.ca/2016/09/02/shed-a-tear-for-poor-put-upon-apple/
Poverty among the elderly in Germany skyrockets:
http://www.dw.com/en/poverty-among-the-elderly-in-germany-skyrockets/a-19542060
Hipsters and artists are the gentrifying foot soldiers of UK capitalism:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/13/hipsters-artists-gentrifying-capitalism
In Scotland, jails are now the “last resort” of the welfare state:
https://www.sundaypost.com/news/political-news/jails-now-last-resort-welfare-state/
UK austerity is officially causing a mental health crisis:
http://www.thecanary.co/2016/09/14/tory-austerity-officially-causing-mental-health-crisis/
Big study into UK food poverty:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/big-study-into-food-poverty-1-8120145
Clegg: Osborne casually cut welfare for poorest to boost Tory popularity:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/sep/02/nick-clegg-george-osborne-cut-welfare-poorest-boost-tory-popularity
UK’s Theresa May rules out more raids on welfare budget:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/may-rules-out-any-further-raids-on-welfare-budget-snpjvfmdb
Disability activists block Westminster Bridge in London:
http://www.socialist.ca/node/3172
Brooklyn’s food gap:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/11/nyregion/brooklyns-food-gap.html
Americans are eager for tax reform: survey:
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/14/americans-are-eager-for-tax-reform-survey.html
The Universal Basic Income: Innovative social welfare reform or Satanic plot?:
http://reason.com/blog/2016/09/12/universal-basic-income-innovative-satan