Top Stories
Greater enforcement of hate speech laws needed in Canada:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/01/greater-enforcement-of-hate-speech-laws-needed-in-canada.html
- How to be an ally: Islamophobia at the intersections: A tipsheet: http://torontoforeveryone.com/blog/2017/1/30/combat-islamophobia-a-tipsheet
- How to help: Check in, speak out, donate: https://www.thestar.com/life/2017/01/31/how-to-help-in-wake-of-quebec-mosque-attack-check-in-speak-out-donate.html
- Canada cannot shy away from its history of Islamophobia and prejudice: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/canada-cannot-shy-away-from-its-history-of-islamophobia-and-prejudice
- Coalition of agencies launches campaign to challenge Islamophobia and racism:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/coalition-agencies-launches-ad-campaign-challenge-islamophobia-and-racism - Advocates urge protection for refugees who enter Canada via the US: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/refugee-ban-canada-safe-third-country-1.3956932
- Advocacy guide for mobilizing against Trump’s immigration policy in Canada: http://www.leaf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Advocacy-Guide-for-Mobilizing-Against-Trump%E2%80%99s-Immigration-Policy-in-Canada1.pdf
Asian job seekers face disadvantage even when they have higher degrees, study finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/01/25/better-education-doesnt-help-asian-job-candidates-beat-out-anglos-study.html
Report: Exclusions from minimum employment standards cost workers millions in lost wages:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/29/legal-loopholes-cost-workers-millions-in-lost-wages-report.html
WSIB lifts lid on secret drug list for injured workers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/01/23/wsib-lifts-lid-on-secret-drug-list-for-injured-workers.html
Table scraps for the poor won’t end poverty:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/table-scraps-for-the-poor-wont-end-poverty/article33784638/
- Londoners on welfare and disability assistance are having to choose between basic necessities: http://www.lfpress.com/2017/02/05/londoners-on-welfare-and-disability-assistance-are-having-to-choose-between-basic-necessities
- So much suffering in Thunder Bay: Raise the rates immediately: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2017/01/20/much-suffering-raise-rates-immediately/
Report highlights busy signals, long waits for EI service; hints at new spending:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1437813-report-highlights-busy-signals-long-waits-for-ei-service-hints-at-new-spending
- Employment Insurance Service Quality Review Report: Making Citizens Central: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/ei/ei-list/reports/service-quality-review-report.html
Why Kathleen Wynne might tackle hydro delivery charges to cut electricity bills:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-delivery-charge-1.3948106
- Rural Ontario hydro users hoping for deliverance from high bills: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/02/05/rural-ontario-hydro-users-hoping-for-deliverance-from-high-bills.html
- Ontario Energy Board press release: New rules to protect households and small businesses in their dealings with energy retails came into effect January 1, 2017: http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/oeb/_Documents/Press%20Releases/newsrelease_ECPA_20170131.pdf
- Government release: Expanding natural gas to more communities across Ontario: https://news.ontario.ca/moi/en/2017/01/expanding-natural-gas-to-more-communities-across-ontario.html
- Number of energy bill relief applications processed by Perth and Smiths Falls Salvation Army “crazy”: http://www.insideottawavalley.com/news-story/7099550-number-of-energy-bill-relief-applications-processed-by-the-salvation-army-crazy-/
Stats show glaring gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment rates in the NWT:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/indigenous-employment-statistics-canada-nwt-1.3942204
- TVO: The high cost of food on First Nations reserves: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/-the-high-cost-of-food-on-first-nations-reserves
Can a national housing benefit help families facing homelessness?
http://homelesshub.ca/blog/can-national-housing-benefit-help-families-facing-homelessness
- Highlights of the 2016 Coordinated Point-in-Time Count of Homelessness in Canadian Communities: http://homelesshub.ca/resource/homelessness-partnering-strategy-highlights-%E2%80%93-2016-coordinated-point-time-count
- Cathy Crowe: What’s a homeless life worth?: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/cathycrowe/2017/01/whats-homeless-life-worth
- Periods are an extra hardship for women who are homeless:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/23/periods-an-extra-hardship-for-homeless-women.html
Minister visits Sault to discuss basic income; Activists say “tax the rich, give to the poor”:
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/minister-visits-sault-to-discuss-anti-poverty-measures-activist-says-tax-the-rich-give-to-the-poor-514472
- ISAC’s submission to the government’s basic income consultations: http://incomesecurity.org/publications/other/ISAC-submission-on-Basic-Income-Jan-31-2017.pdf
- North Bay wants in on basic income: http://www.nugget.ca/2017/01/19/province-proposes-3-test-sites-including-one-in-the-north
- Thunder Bay consultation: Basic income idea supported: http://m.chroniclejournal.com/news/basic-income-idea-supported-guaranteed-pay-could-be-around-per/article_4094bcde-df27-11e6-93b5-8ba83007319e.html?mode=jqm
- Basic Income Open House comes to Thunder Bay: http://www.magic999.ca/news/1539283144/basic-income-open-house-comes-tbay
- Basic income idea supported in Thunder Bay: Guaranteed pay could be around $1320 per month: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/basic-income-idea-supported-guaranteed-pay-could-be-around-per/article_4094bcde-df27-11e6-93b5-8ba83007319e.html
- Basic income guarantee advocates in Thunder Bay demand action: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/basic-income-guarantee-advocates-demand-action-515465
- Peterborough wants in: http://www.mykawartha.com/community-story/7080838-peterborough-wants-in-local-basic-income-group-hosts-community-discussion/
- Ottawans give feedback on Ontario’s guaranteed income pilot project: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/guaranteed-incomes-ottawa-meeting-feedback-1.3950544
- Thomas eager to join basic income pilot project: http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/2017/01/30/st-thomas-wants-in-on-basic-income-pilot
- Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force responds to the proposed basic income pilot: http://www.themeafordindependent.ca/news/community-news/268201-bruce-grey-poverty-task-force-respond-to-the-government-s-proposed-basic-income-pilot
- Summaries of discussions at basic income consultation meetings: https://www.ontario.ca/page/basic-income-pilot-person-discussion-summaries
- Report: A basic income for Canadians: What would change?: http://metcalffoundation.com/stories/publications/a-basic-income-for-canadians/
Torstar is at a crossroads:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/torstar-toronto-star-fairfax-honderich/article33688741/
Ontario
Ontario releases Inspection Blitz Report: Workers Action Centre responds:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=dadc085e68&e=51059eb750
Migrant worker wins $20,000 in human rights case:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/01/13/ontario-migrant-worker-wins-20000-in-human-rights-case.html
Securing fair employment and income: Where Living Wage and the Fight for $15 and Fairness intersect:
http://maytree.com/stories/securing-fair-employment-income-living-wage-fight-15-fairness-intersect/
Ontario Uber drivers launch class action in bid to be considered employees:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/news/ontario-uber-drivers-launch-class-action-in-bid-to-be-considered-employees-93189
Premier Wynne and other Ontario politicians bombarded on social media by homophobic, sexist abuse:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kathleen-wynne-twitter-abuse-1.3949657
Budget Talks – cast your vote for up to three ideas for $3 million in 2017-18 budget by February 23:
https://talks.ontario.ca/
Government releases:
- Helping more children and youth access mental health services: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2017/01/helping-more-children-and-youth-access-mental-health-services.html
- Helping local children’s centres stay safe and accessible: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2017/01/helping-local-childrens-centres-stay-safe-and-accessible.html
- Ontario providing more transit funding for cities and towns across province: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/01/ontario-providing-more-transit-funding-for-cities-and-towns-across-province.html
- Ontario helping keep workers safe on the job: https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2017/01/ontario-helping-keep-workers-safe-on-the-job.html
- Bringing high-speed internet access to rural residents in King Township and Huron County:
https://news.ontario.ca/moi/en/2017/01/bringing-high-speed-internet-access-to-rural-residents-in-king-township-and-huron-county.html - Boosting economic growth in rural Ontario: https://news.ontario.ca/omafra/en/2017/01/boosting-economic-growth-in-rural-ontario.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
How to legally organize a demonstration in Toronto:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/reasonable-doubt-how-to-organize-a-demonstration/
Know your rights guide to protesting: Canadian Civil Liberties Association:
https://ccla.org/know-rights-guide-protesting/
Fight for $15 and Fairness: 2017 has kicked into high gear:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=0d48a18d17&e=f3bab51a7a
- A mythbusters guide to the $15 minimum wage: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/02/01/Minimum-Wage-15-Mythbusters-Guide/
Caledon Institute closing; work moving to Maytree Foundation:
http://maytree.com/media-releases/announcing-next-chapter-caledon-maytree-partnership/
- Three lessons from 25 years with the Caledon Institute: http://maytree.com/publications/three-lessons-25-years-caledon-institute/
- Caledon Commentary: Poverty Reduction and Disability Income: http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/1110ENG%2Epdf
Toronto: Upcoming community forum: Strategizing to prevent seniors evictions:
http://www.equalityrights.org/cera/?p=2267
Maytree special series: Poverty and human rights in Canada:
http://maytree.com/what-we-focus-on/poverty-human-rights/special-series-poverty-human-rights-canada/
Report: Aboriginal Homelessness in Flin Flon, Manitoba:
http://homelesshub.ca/resource/aboriginal-homelessness-flin-flon-manitoba-2016
Stats Can releases and reports
- 2016 Census: Population and dwelling counts to be released next week: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170201/dq170201b-eng.htm
- Consumer Price Index: Annual review, 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170120/dq170120c-eng.htm - A look at immigration, ethnocultural diversity and languages in Canada up to 2036: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170125/dq170125b-eng.htm
- Job vacancies, third quarter 2016: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170125/dq170125a-eng.htm
- Payroll employment, earnings and hours, November 2016: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170126/dq170126a-eng.htm
- Survey of Household Spending, 2015: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170127/dq170127a-eng.htm
- Food insecurity among Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat, 2012: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170201/dq170201a-eng.htm
- Labour force survey: 2016 revisions: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170203/dq170203d-eng.htm
Around the Province
Shuttered No Frills store causes worry in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/parkdale-no-frills-toronto-loblaws-1.3943840
London and area agencies get $1 million from Queen’s Park to fight poverty:
http://www.lfpress.com/2017/01/18/area-poverty-fight-gets-1m-boost-from-queens-park
University of Ottawa law students help people who are homeless:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2017/01/18/university-of-ottawa-law-students-help-homeless.html
South East LHIN offers oral care to low-income families:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2017/01/30/lhin-offers-oral-care-to-low-income-families
Opinion: A reality check on Hamilton’s renaissance:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7079311-dreschel-a-reality-check-on-hamilton-s-renaissance/
Anti-poverty activists rally behind Hamilton MPP’s social assistance bill:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7091554-anti-poverty-activists-rally-behind-hamilton-mpp-s-social-assistance-bill/
Home prices and homelessness rising in Niagara:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2017/01/20/home-prices-homelessness-rising
Impact of end of child support clawback from OW and ODSP in Waterloo:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7102095-child-support-payments-no-longer-clawed-back-from-social-assistance/
Toronto tenants crushed by rent hike exemptions:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-tenants-crushed-by-rent-hike-exemptions/article33806825/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe
Toronto ranked one of the most unaffordable cities in the world:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2017/01/toronto-ranked-one-most-unaffordable-cities-world/
Keeping Toronto “affordable” will cost us all: Keenan:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/01/keeping-toronto-affordable-will-cost-us-all-keenan.html
Kenora program targets poverty: New service to equip people with employment skills:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/kenora-program-targets-poverty-new-service-to-equip-people-with/article_4fb2a8e2-e0b3-11e6-aa3f-930fad788a1a.html
United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and District gets funding for poverty reduction:
http://saultonline.com/2017/02/local-united-way-receives-financial-boost-for-poverty-reduction-strategy/
Across the Country
BC’s social safety net is broken:
http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/410956775.html
Vancouver ranked third most unaffordable housing market in the world:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3198292/vancouver-ranked-third-most-unaffordable-housing-market-in-the-world/
Poverty study finds high housing need in Trail, BC, minimum wage far below living wage:
http://thenelsondaily.com/news/poverty-study-finds-high-housing-need-trail-minimum-wage-far-below-living-wage-43681#.WJisNvJWLeQ
Should Newfoundland and Labrador tie minimum wage to inflation? Consultations start February 6:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/minimum-wage-consultations-newfoundland-1.3961751
Birth certificate misspelling hinders EI application in Calgary:
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/birth-certificate-misspelling-hinders-employment-insurance-application-1.3268932
Studies document experience of migrant workers in Saskatchewan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-migrant-workers-studies-1.3964685
National
Council of Canadians with Disabilities: Six things to keep in mind when talking about federal accessibility legislation:
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/fda/6-things-to-keep-in-mind20Oct2016
Judge orders KPMG to name clients in Isle of Man tax shelter:
http://ipolitics.ca/2017/02/03/judge-orders-kpmg-to-name-clients-in-isle-of-man-tax-shelter/
Federal minister fields questions on basic income at meeting with students:
http://basicincome.org/news/2017/02/quebec-canada-federal-minister-fields-questions-on-basic-income-at-meeting-with-students/
New federal Parliamentary Secretaries list:
http://pm.gc.ca/eng/parliamentary-secretaries
International
Republican lawmakers in five states propose bills to criminalize peaceful protest:
https://theintercept.com/2017/01/19/republican-lawmakers-in-five-states-propose-bills-to-criminalize-peaceful-protest/
Massachusetts workers coalition pushes for $15 minimum wage and surtax on millionaires:
http://wwlp.com/2017/01/31/workers-coalition-pushes-for-15-minimum-wage-and-surtax-on-millionaires/
“French Bernie Sanders” becomes Socialist Party favourite with basic income policy position:
http://www.thelocal.fr/20170122/benoit-hamon-the-french-bernie-sanders-goes-from-underdog-to-socialist-favorite
Street homelessness soars to six year high in the UK:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/street-homelessness-rough-sleeping-up-16-to-six-year-high-john-healey-tim-farron-crisis-charity_uk_5888804ce4b0825491510c6a
Opinion: Russia is a mess – the poverty rate in soaring and only 10 of 85 regions are financially stable:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/russia-is-a-mess-the-poverty-rate-is-soaring-and-only-10-of-85-regions-are-financially-stable-2017-01-31
Australia study shows poverty cuts life more than alcohol:
http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/poverty-cuts-life-more-than-alcohol-study/news-story/d5e322c0e760adec2d2e3739df010eb7
Trump considering order that would target immigrants on welfare or likely to rely on welfare:
http://www.journalnow.com/news/nation_world/trump-considering-order-that-would-target-immigrants-on-welfare-or/article_37c483d2-e751-11e6-815c-fbdda288a07a.html
The basic error of Trump’s draft order targeting immigrants on welfare:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/01/31/the-basic-error-of-trumps-draft-order-targeting-immigrants-on-welfare/