Top Stories
Injured worker “broken down” by 10-year battle with WSIB:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/wsib-appeal-tribunal-wait-1.3833770
Canada chided for treatment of black people by UN group:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2016/11/02/canada-chided-for-treatment-of-black-people-by-un-group.html
Star editorial: Morneau is half right – but the feds and provinces can curb precarious labour itself:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/28/bill-morneau-is-half-right-about-precarious-labour-editorial.html
- An era of precarious employment calls for a new social architecture: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/an-era-of-precarious-employment-calls-for-a-new-social-architecture/article32548765/
- Precarious work creates a cycle of fear and instability: huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/precarious-work-cycle_b_12757650.html
Ontario needs a new common-sense approach to social assistance:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/community-food-centres-canada/ontario-social-assistance_b_12734176.html
- Sudbury and District Board of Health calls on government to increase social assistance rates: http://www.manitoulin.ca/2016/10/28/board-health-calls-increase-social-assistance/
Ontario government consulting on basic income pilot project:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-government-consulting-on-basic-income-pilot-project/article32671739/
- Ontario government considering minimum income pilot project: http://www.citynews.ca/2016/11/03/ontario-government-considering-minimum-income-pilot-project/
- Proposed basic income pilot would provide monthly payments of at least $1,320: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/11/03/proposed-basic-income-pilot-would-provide-monthly-payments-of-least-1320.html
Basic Income Pilot report and discussion paper:
- Government announcement: Ontario seeking input on basic income pilot: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2016/11/ontario-seeking-input-on-basic-income-pilot.html
- Hugh Segal’s report and summary: https://www.ontario.ca/page/finding-better-way-basic-income-pilot-project-ontario
- Government’s consultation guide with basic info about basic income: https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-guide-basic-income-pilot-project
- How to participate – surveys, emails and in-person regional meetings – consultation ends January 31: https://www.ontario.ca/page/basic-income-pilot-consultation#section-3
Resources on Basic Income:
- ISAC / Your Legal Rights Webinar – What is basic income and what could it mean for social assistance?: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/basic-income-what-it-and-what-could-it-mean-social-assistance
- Basic Income: The Devil’s in the Details: http://incomesecurity.org/publications/other/ISAC-Laidley-Basic-Income-The-Devils-in-the-Details-Oct-2016.pdf
- En français ici: http://incomesecurity.org/publications/other/ISAC-Laidley-Basic-Income-The-Devils-in-the-Details-Oct-2016-FR.pdf
- CCPA Ontario: Basic Income: Rethinking Social Policy: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/basic-income
- CCPA: A Policymaker’s Guide to Basic Income: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/basic-income
- Maytree Foundation: Would a universal basic income reduce poverty?: http://maytree.com/policy-and-insights/publications/policy-brief-basic-income.html?doing_wp_cron=1476478493.0893380641937255859375
- Mowat Centre: Pilot Lessons: How to design a basic income pilot for Ontario: https://mowatcentre.ca/pilot-lessons/
- Caledon Institute: “Basic Income” or “Bait and Switch”?: http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/Detail/?ID=1106
Other coverage of basic income:
- Basic income or basement income?: http://peoplesvoice.ca/2016/11/03/ontario-basic-income-or-basement-income/
- Basic income touted as a solution to poverty: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/11/03/basic-income-touted-as-solution-to-poverty
- If we’re not for basic income, what are we for?:
http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/6919686-time-to-put-basic-income-guarantee-to-work-in-ontario/
- Ontario pilot project puts universal basic income to the test: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/universal-basic-income-ontario-poverty-pilot-project-canada
- Fraser Institute: Be cautious about Ontario’s “basic income” plan: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/be-cautious-about-ontario-s-basic-income-plan
Ontario Financial Accountability Office fall economic and fiscal outlook predicts deficit budget in 2017-2018 without additional government measures:
http://www.fao-on.org/en/Blog/media/FAO_expects_ontario_budget
Federal fall economic update: Feds plan to spend billions more on infrastructure, create infrastructure bank to attract private investment:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-liberals-bet-on-infrastructure-spend-with-new-bank-as-economy-weakens/article32622531/
- CCPA: Federal Infrastructure Bank loans will come at a higher cost:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/11/02/federal-infrastructure-bank-loans-will-come-higher-cost/
- Broadbent Institute: Privatization of public infrastructure a major step in wrong direction: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/privatization_of_public_infrastructure
- Walkom: Ottawa’s bold new plan for economic growth is eerily familiar: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/24/ottawas-bold-new-plan-for-economic-growth-is-eerily-familiar-walkom.html
- Sanger: Banking on privatization? http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2016/10/31/banking-on-privatization/
- Morneau counts on foreign investors to buy into infrastructure strategy: http://www.bnn.ca/finance-minister-morneau-adds-31-8b-to-deficits-over-five-years-1.597697
- Construction firms, pension managers welcome increased infrastructure spending:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/11/02/construction-firms-pension-managers-welcome-increased-infrastructure-spending.html
- Feds ask investment bank to study benefits of privatizing airports: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-asks-credit-suisse-to-study-benefits-of-privatizing-airports/article32450487/
- Fall economic update boosts infrastructure plans but offers no path back to balance: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fall-economic-update-bill-morneau-1.3831080
- Ottawa hopes long-term benefits will soothe short-term pain of large deficits: http://globalnews.ca/news/3036594/ottawa-hopes-long-term-benefits-will-soothe-short-term-pain-of-large-deficits/
Canadians must lose irrational fear of increased deficits, economist says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadians-must-lose-fear-of-increased-deficits-1.3823536
Is Canada on the cusp of change for 4.9 million people living in poverty?
http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/10/17/is-canada-on-the-cusp-of-change-for-4-9-million-people-living-in-poverty/#.WBjw2MlWKT8
Ontario
Ombudsman’s report: Top complaints on Family Responsibility Office, ODSP, Hydro One, and WSIB:
https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/Newsroom/Press-Release/2016/Ombudsman-reports-on-first-year-of-expanded-mandat.aspx
- Here’s the report: https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/Resources/Reports/2015-2016-ANNUAL-REPORT.aspx
“Katelynn’s Principle” bill to propose kids in child welfare have say in decisions:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/11/02/katelynns-principle-bill-to-propose-kids-in-child-welfare-have-say-in-decisions.html
Government release: Ontario extends funding into 2019/20 for municipal CHPI homelessness services:
https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2016/11/province-combating-homelessness-in-ontario-communities.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Break the Barriers: Citizens for Public Justice annual report on poverty in Canada:
https://www.cpj.ca/break-barriers
Federal poverty reduction consultations coming soon: Consultation page is here:
http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/consultations/poverty_reduction.page
StatsCan Labour Force Survey, October 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/161104/dq161104a-eng.htm
Reminder: National Housing Day of Action November 18:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/national-housing-day-of-action-registration-28432609701
Wellesley Institute submission on the National Affordable Housing Strategy:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/national-affordable-housing-strategy-submission/
Still Renovating: A history of Canadian social housing policy:
http://www.mqup.ca/still-renovating-products-9780773548152.php?page_id=46&
Mental Health Commission of Canada: The Case for Diversity: Building the case to improve mental health services for immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural and racialized populations:
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/2016-10/case_for_diversity_oct_2016_eng.pdf
Childcare Resource and Research Unit: Issue File on proposed changes to maternity and parental leave:
http://www.childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/16/10/proposed-changes-canadian-maternity-and-parental-leave
How grassroots projects can help solve community social issues:
http://torontoist.com/2016/11/how-grassroots-projects-can-help-solve-community-social-issues/
Toronto conference: Advancing food insecurity research in Canada – Nov 17/18:
http://proof.utoronto.ca/conference/
Around the Province
People who are homeless speak out about harsh treatment by Toronto police:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/03/homeless-speak-out-about-harsh-treatment-by-police.html
Windsor has the most living wage employers:
http://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2016/11/02/windsor-living-wage-employers/
Poverty Roundtable Hastings Prince Edward hopes forum will shift conversation:
http://www.insidebelleville.com/news-story/6938994-poverty-roundtable-hopes-forum-will-shift-conversation/
Northumberland legal clinic Social Justice Award announced:
http://www.northumberlandnews.com/news-story/6942830-new-social-justice-award-created-for-northumberland/
London advocates hammer consultant’s report that calls street culture “a blight”:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/10/28/downtown-london-advocates-hammer-540000-consultants-report-that-calls-street-culture-a-blight
Poverty in London: If this is a true story, the system is broken:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/11/03/poverty-in-london-if-this-is-a-true-story-the-system-is-broken
Timmins to meet 2016 budget; spending lower on social assistance, social housing and public health:
http://www.timminspress.com/2016/11/02/council-still-in-line-to-meet-2016-budget
United Way’s Lived Experiences Advisory Group helps tackle poverty in Toronto:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/31/authentic-voices-are-front-and-centre-as-united-way-helps-tackle-torontos-poverty.html
Toronto’s Mayor says city could sell assets to pay for new transit projects:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-transit-projects-funding-deal-property-tax-hike-1.3832373
ACORN tenant survey bolsters call for landlord licensing in Toronto:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/01/state-of-disrepair-tenant-survey-bolsters-call-for-landlord-licensing.html
- Here’s the survey report: https://www.acorncanada.org/resource/toronto-acorn-state-repair
When hidden poverty penetrates Toronto’s suburbs:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/31/when-hidden-poverty-penetrates-torontos-suburbs.html
A year after Toronto launches strategy to reduce poverty, what’s been done?:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/toronto-poverty-reduction-strategy-housing-1.3833568
Across the Country
Program offers 1 year of free university to Nova Scotians on social assistance:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/welfare-assistance-university-community-college-books-tuition-aid-community-services-1.3825959
New report shines light on BC’s high child poverty rate:
http://www.cknw.com/2016/11/03/new-report-shines-light-on-b-c-s-high-child-poverty-rate/
The case for a progressive property tax in BC:
http://www.policynote.ca/the-case-for-a-progressive-property-tax/
What it’s like saving lives on the front lines of Vancouver’s opioid crisis:
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/what-its-like-saving-lives-on-the-front-lines-of-vancouvers-opiate-crisis
Vancouver legal clinic for low-income women helps 175 clients in first five months:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2016/11/02/rise-women-legal-clinic-served-175-clients-in-first-5-months.html
National
Ministry of Finance confirms Canada Child Benefit will not be indexed until 2020:
http://www.fin.gc.ca/n16/16-140-eng.asp
Why a new national strategy on food can’t satisfy all:
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-a-new-national-strategy-on-food-cant-satisfyall/article32486906/
Rights group urges Canada to protect migrant workers:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/148511/148511
Sponsored refugees fare better than government-assisted peers, study shows:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2016/10/31/sponsored-refugees-fare-better-government-assisted-peers.html
Government announces new CPP-D service standards:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1145459
Canada raises pensionable earnings limits for 2017:
http://www.bna.com/canada-raises-pensionable-n57982082108/
Chief actuary confirms Canada Pension Plan is solid, and sustainable over the long term:
http://www.fin.gc.ca/n16/16-142-eng.asp
Ottawa father claims CRA child benefit policies are “sexist”:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ottawa-father-claims-cra-child-benefit-policies-are-sexist-1.3139426
Government rapped as $900 million unspent by Indigenous Affairs, among lapsed funding for 2016:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/liberals-left-900-million-unspent-last-year-at-indigenous-affairs
Nearly 40% of Canadian post-secondary students experience food insecurity:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/02/nearly-40-per-cent-of-canadian-post-secondary-students-experience-food-insecurity-study.html
Federal government announces changes to student debt repayment plan:
https://theeyeopener.com/2016/10/federal-government-announces-new-student-debt-repayment-plan/
TrudeauMetre: New website tracks Liberal promises:
https://www.trudeaumetre.ca/
International
McDonald’s settlement could open door for worker wins across the US:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/31/mcdonalds-settlement-could-open-door-worker-wins-nationwide
Voters could push the minimum wage to $12 or higher in four US states:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/11/02/voters-could-push-the-minimum-wage-to-12-or-higher-in-four-states/
Guaranteed income would help alleviate poverty in Buffalo:
http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/02/another-voice-guaranteed-income-help-alleviate-poverty/
How social welfare benefits help the US economy:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-social-welfare-benefits-help-the-economy/
No one kicked off welfare for drug tests in Mississippi has gotten treatment:
https://thinkprogress.org/mississippi-welfare-drug-treatment-2ff4a3b90fcf#.2eqmn05or
Glasgow worst hit by UK welfare cuts:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14837221.Glasgow_worst_hit_by_welfare_cuts_with_claimants_losing___400_a_year/
UK Tory MP calls for minimum wage for “gig economy” self-employed:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/01/ed-vaizey-minimum-wage-gig-economy-self-employed
The link between food banks and welfare cuts in the UK:
https://www.ft.com/content/79093f76-9c2a-11e6-a6e4-8b8e77dd083a
New UK welfare boss wants to stop people with mental health conditions from “sitting at home living on benefits”:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-welfare-chief-wants-stop-9161642
Telecommunications poverty in Australia is a real issue:
https://au.news.yahoo.com/sa/a/33093735/telecommunication-poverty-a-real-issue/#page1
Most Australians say inequality worsening and want major rise in minimum wage:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/02/most-australians-say-inequality-worsening-and-want-major-rise-in-minimum-wage
Cashless welfare in Australia set for expansion:
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/cashless-welfare-set-for-expansion-20161030-gsdx7y
Australian government’s scare tactic about the welfare system “treats us like idiots”:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/30/governments-scare-tactic-about-the-welfare-system-treats-us-like-idiots
Japanese single mothers have poverty rate higher than in many other developed nations:
http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/03/news/economy/japan-women-poverty/
Can poverty cause mental illness?:
http://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-can-poverty-lead-to-mental-illness/