Top Stories
On International Workers Day, migrant workers are still precarious and unsupported:
http://ccrweb.ca/en/international-workers-day-statement-2017
- Montreal May Day rallies call for a $15 minimum wage, end to capitalism:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-may-day-rallies-call-for-a-minimum-wage-of-15-end-to-capitalism - Ground handlers at Pearson Airport rally for $15 minimum wage: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/airport-workers-pearson-rally-1.4092577
Federal Liberals suspend tax audits of political charities:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/05/04/ottawa-urged-to-give-charities-more-freedom-to-speak-out.html
Case for Canada’s infrastructure bank not compelling, researchers warn:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/case-for-canada-infrastructure-bank-not-compelling-researchers-warn/article34898110/
Aboriginal approach to child welfare brings results:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201705016122/focus-on/focus-aboriginal-approach-to-child-welfare-brings-results
Canadian minimum wage workers say they’re surviving rather than living:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-minimum-wage-workers-say-they-re-surviving-rather-than-living-1.3391580#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=EI1EGuL
Judge certifies minimum wage lawsuit against Ontario Hockey League:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/judge-certifies-minimum-wage-lawsuit-ontario-hockey-league/
These 3 groups are at high risk of mental health issues in Canada. Here’s why:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3415871/these-3-groups-are-at-high-risk-of-mental-health-issues-in-canada-heres-why/
Ontario gets a C in gender wage equality; Canada ranks low on income inequality, poverty and social cohesion:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-gets-a-c-in-gender-wage-equality-new-report-finds-1.4055873
Parkdale tenants organize rent strike to protest rent increases at MetCap buildings:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3416279/parkdale-rent-strike-metcap-buildings/
- Toronto tenants threatened with eviction amid rent strike: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/metcap-tenants-threatened-with-eviction-amid-rent-strike/article34870301/
- GoFundMe: Support the Parkdale Tenants Strike: https://www.gofundme.com/support-parkdale-tenants
Ontario landlords must pay one month’s rent or offer new unit to tenants they evict for own use:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/04/26/ontario-landlords-must-pay-months-rent-find-new-unit.html?cq_ck=1493241245129
Why I love taxes – and so should you:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/05/01/why-i-love-taxes-and-so-should-you-mallick.html
Top Stories – Ontario Budget
- Little help for workers laid out in Ontario budget: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/27/little-help-for-workers-laid-out-in-ontario-budget.html
- Families get free prescription drugs for children, more aid for students:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3410017/ontario-budget-2017-families-get-free-prescriptions-drugs-for-children-more-aid-for-students/ - Welfare recipients see boost in asset limits in Ontario budget: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/27/welfare-recipients-see-boost-in-asset-limits-in-ontario-budget.html
- No new cash for fixing social housing stock: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/04/27/no-new-cash-for-fixing-social-housing-stock.html
- New funding for Toronto transit, social housing left out of Ontario budget: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/new-funding-for-toronto-transit-social-housing-left-out-of-ontario-budget/article34840368/
- John Tory is right to raise hell with province, but most also find a way to fix social housing: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/04/tory-is-right-to-raise-hell-with-the-province-but-he-must-also-find-a-way-to-fix-social-housing.html
- How Ontario’s proposed pharmacare plan could improve employee benefits: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-pharmacare-1.4090795
- Winners and losers from the 2017 Ontario budget: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/04/27/winners-and-losers-from-the-2017-ontario-budget.html
- The 2017 Ontario budget at a glance: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/the-2017-ontario-budget-at-a-glance
Response and Analysis
- ISAC: More than 930,000 Ontarians continue to wait for incomes that give health and dignity: Other announcements bring much-needed change: http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/ontario-budget-2017-isac-response-and-analysis/
- ACORN: http://www.acorncanada.org/ontario-budget-response-acorn-canada-president-marva-burnett
- Association of Ontario Health Centres: https://www.aohc.org/news/Ontario-government-makes-new-commitment-strengthening-interprofessional-primary-care
- CCPA: Ontario budget is balanced, but province still in a straightjacket: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/04/27/ontario-budget-balanced-province-still-fiscal-straightjacket/
- CMHA-Ontario: Hopeful of more funding for mental health and addictions: http://ontario.cmha.ca/news/cmha-ontario-remains-hopeful-of-more-funding-for-mental-health-and-addictions/
- Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada: http://chfcanada.coop/eng/pdf/mediareleases/2017_CHFCanada%20_Release_ONBudget.pdf
- Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care: Child care can’t wait: http://www.childcareontario.org/child_care_can_t_wait
- Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association: A missed opportunity: http://qc.onpha.on.ca/2017/04/a-missed-opportunity-for-non-profit-housing-onphas-response-to-the-2017-ontario-budget/
- OMSSA: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Info-Alert–OMSSA-s-2017-Provincial-Budget-Report.html?soid=1115209281328&aid=wnQNgDhGijk
- Ontario Nonprofit Network: https://ontariononprofitnetwork.wildapricot.org/Ontario-Budget-2017-Budget-deficit-done-now-its-time-to-focus-on-the-social-deficit
- Pooran Law: http://www.pooranlaw.com/ontario-budget-comes-up-short-for-odsp-recipients/
- Put Food in the Budget: http://www.putfoodinthebudget.ca/99_6_of_the
- Conference Board of Canada: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=8829
Opposition statements
- Ontario PC Party: http://www.ontariopc.ca/statement_from_ontario_pc_leader_patrick_brown_on_budget_2017
- Ontario NDP: http://www.ontariondp.ca/ndp_wynne_s_budget_doesn_t_undo_the_damage_she_s_done
- Ontario Green Party: http://gpo.ca/smoke-and-mirrors-response-2017-ontario-budget
Ontario
Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan fails to identify the real offenders:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ben-myers/ontario-fair-housing-plan_b_16391446.html
- Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations responds to Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan:
https://torontotenants.org/news/fmta-responds-ontarios-fair-housing-plan
OFL statement on the 2017 Day of Mourning:
http://ofl.ca/index.php/ofl-statement-2017-day-mourning/
Ontario Electricity Support Program to benefit more consumers, increase credits by 50%:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/oesp-to-benefit-more-consumers-increase-credits-by-50-620482563.html
Racial profiling occurs at Ontario airports, malls, and schools, report says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2017/05/03/racial-profiling-in-ontario-not-just-a-policing-issue-report-says.html
$110 million lawsuit targets Ontario wait lists for developmentally delayed adults:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/23/110m-lawsuit-targets-ontario-wait-lists-for-developmentally-delayed-adults.html
Ontario vows to act on solitary confinement limits in new report:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prison-report-calls-for-hard-limits-on-solitary-confinement/article34894282/
- Government release: Ontario taking action to reform correctional system:
https://news.ontario.ca/mcscs/en/2017/05/ontario-taking-action-to-reform-correctional-system.html
Government news releases:
- Providing a helping hand to those caring for loved ones: https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2017/04/providing-a-helping-hand-to-those-caring-for-loved-ones.html
- Ontario boost mental health supports:
https://news.ontario.ca/maesd/en/2017/05/ontario-boosts-mental-health-supports-for-people-across-the-province.html - Ontario’s unemployment rate lowest in 16 years: https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2017/05/ontarios-unemployment-rate-lowest-in-16-years.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
May 11: CLC and OFL host Street Party for a Fair Future:
https://www.facebook.com/events/442605296092889/
June 1: Workers’ Comp is a Right! Injured Workers’ Day Rally and March at Queen’s Park:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1044072909025603/
CLEO’s new “how to” resource: Using social media effectively:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/cleos-new-how-resource-using-social-media-effectively
Stats Can Study: Young men and women without a high school diploma, 1990 to 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170504/dq170504b-eng.htm
Basic Income: A Critical Reader:
https://hammerhearts.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/basic-income-a-critical-reader/
Around the Province
Not tracking mental health and addictions waitlist in the North has the potential to reach a crisis situation:
https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/not-tracking-mental-health-and-addictions-waitlist-has-the-potential-to-reach-a-crisis-situation-604086
Guelph’s Out of Poverty Society hits the streets:
https://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/7265038-guelph-s-out-of-poverty-society-hits-the-streets/
Agencies in Orillia keeping an eye on the province’s Basic Income pilot:
http://www.orilliapacket.com/2017/05/03/agencies-keeping-eye-on-basic-income
Leeds Grenville doesn’t get Ontario’s basic income pilot:
http://www.recorder.ca/2017/04/25/area-out-for-basic-income
Ontario running a basic income pilot project:
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2017/05/01/province-running-a-pilot-project
Across the Country
“I’m not a heartless person”: Saskatchewan social services minister says cuts to funerals a tough decision:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/saskatchewan-funeral-budget-poverty-1.4093711
Everyone Counts: St. John’s Point-in-Time Count 2016:
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=61233be4a0bcc87d8977b631e&id=195ba66d4f&e=6da7d6f883
Nova Scotia NDP unveils plan to raise minimum wage to $15 an hour:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/election-ndp-minimum-wage-raise-gary-burrill-1.4099274
Discussion on poverty reduction being held in Truro:
http://www.trurodaily.com/community/2017/5/3/discussion-on-poverty-reduction-being-held-in-truro.html
Canada Without Poverty workshops coming to Yellowknife this week:
http://www.myyellowknifenow.com/23453/poverty-homelessness-workshops-coming-yellowknife/
Manitoba hints at raising minimum wage after freeze:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3413017/province-hints-at-raising-manitobas-minimum-wage-after-freeze/
- Manitoba NDP leadership candidate Wab Kinew pledges a $15 minimum wage:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/kinew-promises-15-minimum-wage-by-2024-421364973.html
Quebec’s minimum wage increases to $11.25 an hour:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-minimum-wage-2017-increase-1.4093047
PEI Minister says province cannot adopt universal income pilot without federal dollars:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/2017/4/28/trivers-takes-government-to-task-over-inaction-on-basic-income-p.html
B.C. homeless advocates call for ‘death review panel’ as fatality figures spike:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/report-homeless-deaths-surge-in-b-c
- Number of homeless deaths in BC hits record high: Report: http://www.news1130.com/2017/04/26/number-homeless-deaths-bc-hits-record-high-report/
- Another tent city springs up in Vancouver as homeless rates rise:
http://m.metronews.ca/#/article/news/vancouver/2017/04/28/another-tent-city-springs-up-in-vancouver.html - BC renters form new union to protect against evictions:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-renters-form-new-union-to-protect-from-evictions/article34861030/
Advocacy groups in BC launch constitutional challenge over legal aid:
http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/legalfeeds/3801/advocacy-groups-in-b-c-launch-constitutional-challenge-over-legal-aid.html
- Single mothers sue BC government over access to legal aid after drastic cuts:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3411129/single-mothers-sue-b-c-government-over-access-to-legal-aid-after-drastic-cuts/
BC’s inequality gap widens – and shapes the election campaign:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bcs-inequality-gap-widens-and-shapes-the-electioncampaign/article34857613/
BC responds to suit over fees to welfare recipients for methadone treatment:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-responds-to-suit-over-fees-to-welfare-recipients-for-methadone-treatment
BC Greens want to experiment with basic guaranteed income:
http://runnermag.ca/2017/05/b-c-greens-want-to-experiment-with-basic-guaranteed-income/
National
The introduction and evolution of child benefits in Canada:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/04/27/introduction-evolution-child-benefits-canada/
Drowning in debt is the new normal in Canada:
http://www.news1130.com/2017/04/24/drowning-debt-new-normal-canada/
Financial outlook for millennials bleak unless the government steps in now:
http://www.bnn.ca/financial-outlook-for-millennials-bleak-unless-the-government-steps-in-now-stats-expert-1.741792
Widow takes feds to appeals tribunal after CPP benefits denied due to her age:
http://www.cp24.com/news/widow-takes-feds-to-appeals-tribunal-after-cpp-benefits-denied-due-to-her-age-1.3391700
Multiculturalism isn’t bad for women – but racism is:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/05/04/multiculturalism-isnt-bad-for-women-but-racism-is-kanji.html
In an aging Canada, women need to save more than men, even if they make less:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3423474/in-an-aging-canada-women-need-to-save-more-than-men-even-if-they-make-less/
International
Australia’s government announces crackdown on welfare “cheats”:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/turnbull-government-announces-crackdown-on-welfare-cheats/news-story/346eafe7bed19d0b737caa6e537531d6
- Welfare cheats to be targeted in upcoming Australia federal budget: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-05/01/c_136248447.htm
- Australia urged not to target welfare recipients to improve budget woes: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/03/acoss-coalition-urged-not-to-hit-welfare-recipients-to-tackle-budget-woes
- Australia’s cashless welfare card trial costs up to $18.9M, data reveals: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/02/cashless-welfare-card-trialled-for-fewer-than-2000-people-at-cost-of-up-to-189m
Lunch-shaming in US schools has no place in the battle against child poverty:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2017/may/02/lunch-shaming-battle-against-child-poverty
- Poverty in Seattle is now largely a suburban challenge: http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/poverty-is-now-largely-a-suburban-challenge/
- It’s time for a US $15 national minimum wage: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/29/its-time-national-15-minimum-wage
UK welfare reform is not only cruel but chaotic. Theresa May must address this:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/commentisfree/2017/may/02/welfare-reform-cruel-chaotic-theresa-may
116-year old Mexican woman denied welfare for being too old:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/116-Year-Old-Woman-Denied-Welfare-for-Being-Too-Old-20170430-0005.html
Irish Minister overstating welfare fraud problem:
http://www.limerickpost.ie/2017/04/28/minister-overstating-welfare-fraud-problem/
Why a $15 minimum wage is good economics:
http://prospect.org/article/why-15-minimum-wage-good-economics