Top Stories
This will be the last Media & Policy News until the new year! Happy Holidays everyone!
- And ISAC is moving today! – more info here: http://incomesecurity.org/general/were-moving/
Later today, Campaign 2000 will be making public a letter to federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos about the Canada Child Benefit. Campaign 2000 partners have written to them in advance of the federal-provincial-territorial Finance Ministers meeting on Sunday and Monday to urge them to make sure that the new Canada Child Benefit is not clawed back from provincial social assistance / income assistance benefits.
- Check back later today for a copy of that letter, to which ISAC is a proud signatory: http://www.campaign2000.ca/
Sally Ann clients in say thanks for the Christmas Turkey, but much more is needed to end poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/more-help-needed-break-poverty-chain-salvation-army-1.3366160
- Banks steal the show at the CBC’s annual food bank charity drive: https://nowtoronto.com/news/big-profit-banks-steal-show-at-CBC’s-annual-food-drive/
- A roundup from PFIB of stories of people challenging food banks to act on social justice, not charity: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51055/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1338225
Sun column: Canada’s low income families are in trouble – especially in Ontario:
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/13/economic-strategy-needed-for-low-income-families
Ontario’s minimum wage leaves workers 16% below the poverty line:
http://johnb98.tumblr.com/post/135145220744/ontario-minimum-wage-leaves-workers-16-below-the
Food prices are rising:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/ctv-national-news/video?clipId=767599
- Canada’s tanking petro dollar costs us all more to eat: http://www.lfpress.com/2015/12/09/cut-the-loonie-with-falling-oil-prices-and-voila-a-food-price-souffle
- CBC Video: http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/food-prices-to-rise-1.3360279
Mi’kmaq leaders relieved the federal government is nixing welfare rate cuts on First Nations:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1326949-n.s.-first-nations-hail-welfare-decision
Walkom: Will Trudeau really implement bold and ambitious Truth and Reconciliation recommendations:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/12/17/truth-and-reconciliation-report-goes-well-beyond-residential-schools-walkom.html
Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath calls for creation of Ontario Anti-Racism Secretariat:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/12/16/anti-racism-secretariat-needed-in-ontario-says-ndp.html
Couple on ODSP wants to change the full clawback on CPP benefits:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/12/09/i-know-the-rules-i-want-to-change-the-rules
Calgarians call for change to arrangement between CPP-D and private insurance companies, leaving sick and dying patients in the lurch:
http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/canada/calgary/story/1.3361009
Public servants blow the whistle on tax system shortfalls, political meddling and CRA boondoggles:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/public-servants-blow-the-whistle-on-the-tax-system-shortfalls
- Meanwhile, the CRA is going after low-income Indigenous women for back taxes, reinterpreting the Indian Act: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/12/14/canada-revenue-agency-seeks-back-taxes-from-aboriginal-employees.html
Injured workers protest denied claims at the Windsor WSIB office:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/injured-workers-protest-outside-wsib-office
Ending child poverty is the top of this writer’s holiday wish list:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/doreen-nicoll/2015/12/ending-child-poverty-top-my-holiday-wish-list
OFL statement on International Migrants Day, December 18:
http://ofl.ca/index.php/migrantsday2015/
Ontario
Pre-budget consultations starting soon:
http://www.ontario.ca/page/pre-budget-consultations
Ontario investing in 1000 supportive housing units:
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2015/12/ontario-investing-in-1000-supportive-housing-units.html
Almost half of Ontario government jobs last year were temporary positions:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2015/12/12/almost-half-ontario-government-hiring-temporary-positions.html
Workers should be able to stay home if they’re sick – but 1.6 million Ontarian workers can’t:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6180609-workers-should-be-able-to-stay-home-if-sick/
List of all Local Poverty Reduction Fund grants made this year:
http://www.ontario.ca/page/local-poverty-reduction-fund-successful-applicants
Reports, Events, Campaigns
Every Ninth Child in Ontario: A cost-benefit analysis for investing in the care of special needs children and youth in Ontario:
http://openpolicyontario.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/every-ninth-child-report-final.pdf
CCPA report: New study reveals the most and least expensive Canadian cities for child care:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/new-study-reveals-most-and-least-expensive-canadian-cities-child-care
CCPA report: Addressing core housing need in Canada:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/addressing-core-housing-need-canada
Caledon Institute report: Welfare in Canada 2014:
http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/Detail/?ID=1086
Oxfam report: Extreme wealth is not merited:
https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/extreme-wealth-not-merited
Ontario Electricity Support Program information:
http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/oeb/Consumers/Consumer%20Protection/Help%20for%20Low-Income%20Energy%20Consumers/Ontario%20Electricity%20Support%20Program%20%28OESP%29
New Statistics Canada reports:
- Income of Canadians, 2000-2013: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/151217/dq151217c-eng.htm
- Low Income Lines, 2013-14: Update: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2015002-eng.htm
- Revisions to 2006-2011 income data: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2015003-eng.htm
Around the Province
From Niagara: Hear the voices of what housing actually means, from five formerly homeless individuals:
http://startmeupniagara.ca/home-at-last-home-to-stay/
Waterloo Region politicians examining free transit for people on Ontario Works and others on low income:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6198553-region-floats-free-transit-for-poor/
What 1,000 good paying jobs mean for Windsor-Essex:
http://windsorstar.com/business/local-business/what-1000-good-paying-jobs-mean-for-windsor-essex
CMHA Sudbury to offer more rent supplements “because we know that, for people living on Ontario Disability Support or Ontario Works, it’s not enough money to live on”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/cmha-rent-supplements-sudbury-1.3370221
Hamilton’s CHCH cuts dozens of staff to be “free of old Union employees and their demands”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/chch-had-to-get-free-from-old-union-employees-and-their-demands-sales-rep-1.3366041
- Meanwhile, Vice Canada is unionizing: http://www.cmg.ca/en/2015/12/15/why-we-are-unionizing-at-vice-canada/
Toronto civic leaders push for $75 million for poverty reduction in Council’s 2016 budget:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/12/14/civic-leaders-push-75-million-poverty-busting-plan.html
- Press release on letter from civic leaders: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/widespread-support-for-bold-action-and-new-investments-in-budget-2016-561766501.html
- Toronto’s mayor says poverty reduction needs to be among the top three spending priorities: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6194588-mayor-john-tory-advises-budget-committee-to-keep-increase-to-rate-of-inflation-plus-0-5-per-cent-su/
- Toronto City Budgetwatch: Three recommendations from the CCPA: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/12/14/toronto-city-budget-watch-three-recommendations/
Across the Country
Wait times on BC’s welfare phone line soar to almost one hour:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/welfare-wait-times-1.3361973
The 30/30/30 plan to tie affordable housing to accessible transit in Vancouver:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/12/08/Affordable-Housing-Accessible-Transit/
Vancouver Courier blog: Poverty persists, despite more money for meals for kids:
http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/blogs/12th-and-cambie-1.391144/more-meals-for-kids-but-poverty-persists-1.2131456
Op-Ed: BC needs a poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.peacearchnews.com/lifestyles/361577841.html
BC man who is homeless wins the lottery but can’t claim the prize because he doesn’t have identification:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/steve-borik-homeless-man-wins-lotto-1.3369155
Alberta premier says $15 minimum wage a “notional” target that may not be reached:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/premier-says-15-an-hour-minimum-wage-a-notional-target-suggests-it-may-not-proceed-due-to-economy
Newfoundland & Labrador stops collection of pension overpayments:
http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2015-12-17/article-4379089/Province-cancels-process-to-collect-pension-overpayments/1
Upstream Saskatchewan: Living wages make communities resilient:
http://www.thinkupstream.net/livingwage_resilience
From Manitoba: Community-based solutions critical to beating poverty:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2015/12/community-based-solutions-represent-our-best-chance-to-beat-p
EI numbers in Calgary and Alberta more than double:
http://calgaryherald.com/business/local-business/employment-insurance-numbers-in-calgary-and-alberta-more-than-double
Dump existing programs and replace them with the family allowance, says the Victoria Times Colonist:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-raise-benefits-to-fight-poverty-1.2131749
Plan to wipe out poverty in Edmonton is closer to taking effect:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2403365/plan-to-wipe-out-poverty-in-edmonton-inches-closer-to-taking-effect/
National
Federal government poised to restore refugee health benefits:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6180064-liberals-to-restore-refugee-health-benefits/
- Statement: The federal government is abandoning its refugee health care appeal: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=1025029&crtr.tp1D=980
- Governments must increase funding to guard against unintended consequences: http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/12/syrias-refugees-who-pays
CPP reform up for debate at federal / provincial / territorial finance ministers talks this weekend:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cpp-reform-may-not-garner-enough-provincial-support-at-federal-meeting/article27773970/
Are Trudeau’s tax cuts really for the middle class?
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/karl-nerenberg/2015/12/trudeau-cuts-taxes-six-figure-members-middle-class
Federal government rebuilding EI; premium reductions scheduled but timeline unsure:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-liberals-ei-premiums-1.3369657
Shoal Lake 40 First Nation to get all-weather road:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/isolated-reserve-without-clean-water-to-get-all-weather-road-minister/article27778736/?utm_source=facebook.com
International
Day care costs in the US can drive a family into poverty before a child reaches kindergarten:
http://www.thenation.com/article/day-care-costs-can-drive-a-family-into-poverty-before-a-child-reaches-kindergarten/
There is no skills gap”. Employers are just cheapskates:
http://careers.workopolis.com/advice/there-is-no-skills-gap-employers-are-just-cheapskates/?CID=EM|B2C|NetworkNews|20151217|EN
A French MP wants basic income to replace all welfare. Is he right:
http://www.basicincome.org/news/2015/12/french-mp-wants-basic-income-to-replace-all-welfare-is-he-right/
Four mistakes that prove New Zealand’s premier is “clueless” about poverty:
http://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/four-mistakes-prove-key-clueless-about-poverty
Vermont considers fee on hotel rooms to pay for services to help people who are homeless:
http://www.wcax.com/story/30777097/anti-poverty-advocates-call-for-new-fees-to-help-homeless