Ed. note: After a long hiatus for a very busy spring, MPN is back. I hope to share headlines from some of the big stories from the last few weeks over the next few. Enjoy.
Top Stories
More Canadians seeking CPP disability benefits have denials overturned on appeal:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/06/04/more-canadians-seeking-cpp-disability-benefits-have-denials-overturned-on-appeal.html
Average hourly wages in Canada have barely budgeted in 40 years:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3531614/average-hourly-wage-canada-stagnant/
Canadians owe $1.67 for every $1 of household disposable income, StatsCan says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/national-balance-sheet-q1-2017-1.4159851?cmp=rss
Few Canadians think support for Indigenous communities should be a federal priority: poll:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/canadians-think-support-indigenous-communities-federal-priority-poll-141405664.html
Canada’s food prices offer a taste of inflation to come:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/canadas-food-prices-offer-a-taste-of-inflation-to-come/article35320029/
Canada falls behind other rich nations on child issues, UNICEF report finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/06/15/canada-falls-behind-other-rich-nations-on-child-issues-unicef-report-finds.html
Anti-poverty groups push Trudeau government to boost child benefits:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/06/12/anti-poverty-groups-push-trudeau-government-to-boost-child-benefit.html
CPP changes do little for low-income earners, study finds:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/06/14/CPP-Study/
- Here’s the study: http://irpp.org/research-studies/study-no64/
Vancouver adopts living wage of $20.62:
http://www.vancourier.com/news/vancouver-adopts-living-wage-of-20-62-1.20492502
Four ways to fill the rental housing gap:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/06/06/Fill-Rental-Housing-Gap/
Logistical barriers prevent migrant farm workers from accessing health care:
http://rabble.ca/news/2017/06/logistical-barriers-prevent-migrant-farm-workers-accessing-health-care
Sometimes welfare is a person’s best option:
http://www.thereminder.ca/opinion/local-angle/local-angle-sometimes-welfare-is-a-person-s-best-option-1.20480944
Jail sentence for boss who owed workers $125,000: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/06/jail-sentence-for-boss-who-owed-workers-125000.html
Could finding an affordable place to live be THE Ontario election issue of 2018?
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/could-finding-an-affordable-place-to-live-be-the-election-issue-of-2018-1.4159206
Minimum Wage and Employment / Labour Law Changes
- Will a $15 minimum wage be good for Ontario? Two experts debate: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/opinion/minimum-wage-debate-1.4143772
- For low-income workers, Ontario’s minimum wage hike is life changing:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/genymoney/for-low-income-employees-ontarios-minimum-wage-hike-is-a-good-start/article35199613/?click=sf_globefb - Labour law changes help workers and business:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/06/05/labour-law-changes-help-workers-and-business.html - Business owner: Yes, it is possible to pay your workers a high minimum wage: http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/carpinone-yes-it-is-possible-to-pay-your-workers-a-high-minimum-wage
- Debunking: “If you raise the minimum wage, it will cause inflation”:
https://medium.com/@discomfiting/debunking-if-you-raise-the-minimum-wage-it-will-cause-inflation-c0db32f579f8 - Ontario minimum-wage hike expected to squeeze restaurant owners:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/ontario-minimum-wage-hike-expected-to-squeeze-restaurant-owners/article35199089/?click=sf_globefb - Minimum wage the right thing to do, labour minister says: https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7359265-minimum-wage-the-right-thing-to-do-labour-minister-says/
- Manitoba premier criticizes minimum wage increases in Ontario, Alberta: http://globalnews.ca/news/3501811/manitoba-premier-criticizes-minimum-wage-increases-in-ontario-alberta/
- Minimum wage hike will force some restaurants to close: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/06/15/minimum-wage-hike-will-force-some-restaurants-to-close.html
- Food industry concerned by minimum wage increase: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/andrew-coppolino-minimum-wage-1.4152124
- Ontario’s minimum wage hike will cause chaos: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2017/06/11/ontarios-minimum-wage-hike-will-cause-chaos.html
- Minimum wage plan is faulty: http://oshawaexpress.ca/minimum-wage-plan-is-faulty/
- Minimum wage increase doesn’t add up for businesses: https://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion-story/7366898-minimum-wage-increase-doesn-t-add-up-for-businesses/
- Minimum wage hike sparks debate over replacing human workers with machines: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/ontario-minimum-wage-hike-sparks-debate-over-replacing-human-workers-with-machines-1.4160763
- Minimum wage hike threatens small business: Owner: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/06/11/minimum-wage-hike-threatens-small-business-owner
- Minimum wage increase not all doom and gloom: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2017/06/13/minimum-wage-increase-not-all-doom-and-gloom.html
- Wage increase to help newcomers: http://cciottawa.ca/minimum-wage-change-benefit-newcomers/
- Minimum wage hike won’t bankrupt the economy: https://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/opinion-story/7349138-minimum-wage-hike-won-t-bankrupt-the-economy/
- Higher minimum wage leads to better public health in Peterborough: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2017/06/13/higher-minimum-wage-leads-to-better-public-health-in-peterborough
- $15 and Fairness shakes up Ontario: https://socialistproject.ca/bullet/1428.php
- Walkom: Kathleen Wynne’s precarious workplace reforms fall painfully short: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/05/30/kathleen-wynnes-precarious-workplace-reforms-fall-painfully-short-walkom.html
- Historic gains in Ontario workers’ rights: What BC can learn: http://www.policynote.ca/historic-gains-in-ontario-workers-rights-what-bc-can-learn/
- Fairness means no exemptions, the tools to enforce rights: https://www.kingstonregion.com/opinion-story/7369630-fairness-means-no-exemptions-the-tools-to-enforce-rights/
- New workplace legislation could generate “unintended consequences” for construction:
http://dailycommercialnews.com/en-US/Government/News/2017/6/New-workplace-legislation-could-generate-unintended-consequences-for-construction-1024613W/
- Government release: Creating Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs for Temporary Help Workers:
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2017/06/creating-fair-workplaces-better-jobs-for-temporary-help-workers.html - Government release: Equal pay for part-time workers: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/05/30/kathleen-wynnes-precarious-workplace-reforms-fall-painfully-short-walkom.html
- Government release: Personal emergency leave for all workers: https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2017/06/personal-emergency-leave-for-all-workers.html
Child Care
- Ontario commits to universally accessible child care: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/06/06/ontario-commits-to-universally-accessible-child-care.html
- Government release: Ontario making child care more accessible and affordable for families: https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2017/06/ontario-making-child-care-more-accessible-and-affordable-for-families.html
- National child-care plan targets families in need: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/11/national-child-care-plan-targets-families-in-need.html
- Liberal child care plan smacks of ticking boxes as opposed to meaningful reform: http://news.nationalpost.com/opinion/john-ivison-liberal-child-care-plan-smacks-of-ticking-boxes-opposed-to-meaningful-reform
- Government release: Government of Canada and Government of Ontario conclude the first early learning and child care bilateral agreement: https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2017/06/the-government-of-canada-and-the-government-of-ontario-concludes-the-first-early-learning-and-child.html
Basic Income
- Basic income would cost Canada $15 billion annually: Report: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/06/basic-income-canada_n_16971060.html?ncid=fcbklnkcahpmg00000001
- Basic income plan doable: Northern study:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/06/05/basic-income-plan-doable-northern-study - Here’s the report: http://www.northernpolicy.ca/dowestillneedabig
- Basic income best way to help families reliable put food on the table: Report: http://globalnews.ca/news/3530042/basic-income-food-insecurity-canada/
- Here’s the report: Implications of a basic income guarantee for household food security: http://www.northernpolicy.ca/bigandfoodinsecurity
- Working to death: Leftist critiques of basic income fail to offer meaningful alternatives:
https://medium.com/@mileskrauter/working-to-death-leftist-critiques-of-basic-income-fail-to-offer-meaningful-alternatives-8fe2b8ebe6a - Bread and Roses: Beyond a basic income: http://gutsmagazine.ca/bread/
- Basic income has opportunity costs: http://www.thinkupstream.net/big_costs
- What do Canadians think about basic income? It will reduce poverty but could raise taxes: http://globalnews.ca/news/3509763/what-do-canadians-think-of-basic-income-it-will-reduce-poverty-but-could-raise-taxes/
Employment Strategy for Ontarians with Disabilities
- Ontario’s new employment strategy aims to reduce unemployment for Canadians with disabilities:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/ontarios-new-employment-strategy-aims-to-reduce-unemployment-for-canadians-with-disabilities - Government release: https://news.ontario.ca/acc/en/2017/06/connecting-more-people-with-disabilities-to-job-opportunities.html
- “Access talent: Ontario’s employment strategy for people with disabilities”: https://www.ontario.ca/page/access-talent-ontarios-employment-strategy-people-disabilities
- Job strategy for Ontarians with disabilities lacks specifics, critics say: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/06/05/job-strategy-for-ontarians-with-disabilities-lacks-specifics-critics-say.html
- AODA Alliance response: Too little immediate concrete action and more delays: http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/06052017.asp
Government Revenue / Taxation
- Canadians among least-taxed people in the developed world: study
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/04/taxes-canada_n_16950242.html - Here’s the study – The Brass Tax: Busting myths about overtaxed Canadians: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/the_brass_tax
- Canada’s weak laws hobble identification of tax dodgers: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/morneau-tax-havens-beneficial-ownership-uk-hammond-canada-revenue-agency-1.4157246
Ontario
Stan Raper, fierce fighter for health and safety protection for farm workers, dies at 55:
http://www.lfpress.com/2017/06/06/stan-raper-who-led-fight-for-health-and-safety-protection-for-farm-workers-dies-at-56
Growing gap in fundraising between affluent and needy schools in Ontario, data show:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/growing-gap-in-fundraising-between-affluent-and-needy-schools-data-show/article35199900/
How exactly did Ontario Liberals balance the budget?
http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/how-exactly-did-ontario-liberals-balance-the-budget/
Government release: Celebrate National Aboriginal Day on June 21:
https://news.ontario.ca/mirr/en/2017/06/celebrate-national-aboriginal-day-on-june-21st-1.html
Government release: Ontario continuing progress on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples:
https://news.ontario.ca/mirr/en/2017/06/ontario-continuing-progress-on-reconciliation-with-indigenous-peoples.html
Government release: Building a fairer and better future for people across Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/06/building-a-fairer-and-better-future-for-people-across-ontario.html
Government release: Ontario passes legislation to help homebuyers and seniors:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170602/dq170602b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
ISAC Webinar: Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot: What low-income people and their allies need to know:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/basic-income-ontario-what-low-income-people-service-providers-and-advocates-need-know
ISAC is hiring a Workers’ Rights Organizer – application deadline Monday:
http://incomesecurity.org/general/job-opportunity-workers-rights-organizer-organisateur-des-droits-des-travailleurs-one-year-contract-contrat-dun-an/
Mowat Centre report: The seventy-five year decline: How government expropriated Employment Insurance from Canadian workers and employers and why this matters:
https://mowatcentre.ca/the-seventy-five-year-decline/
YIMBY: Speak up! We need affordable rooming houses in Toronto!
http://www.yesinmybackyard.ca/updates/speak-up-we-need-affordable-rooming-houses/
Stats Can: Labour productivity, hourly compensation and unit labour cost, first quarter 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170602/dq170602b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Stats Can: Employer pension plans:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170608/dq170608b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Stats Can: The impact of aging on labour market participation rates:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170614/dq170614b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Around the Province
The Parkdale rent strike is gaining steam:
http://torontoist.com/2017/06/parkdale-rent-strike-gaining-steam/
- Teachers and students to join Parkdale rent strikers: http://www.680news.com/2017/06/02/1590129/
- Parkdale tenants rally against MetCap Living rent increase: https://www.insidetoronto.com/community-story/7358115-parkdale-tenants-rally-against-metcap-living-rent-increase/
- Parkdale tenants disrupt hearing in protest over proposed rent hike: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/07/parkdale-tenants-disrupt-hearing-in-protest-over-proposed-rent-hike.html
New oral health clinic for low-income adults coming from North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit:
http://www.nugget.ca/2017/06/12/clinic-for-low-income-adults-expected-to-open-in-the-fall
Tenants, industry professionals question proposed sale of Toronto Community Housing homes:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7369445-tenants-industry-professionals-question-proposed-sale-of-tchc-homes/
Toronto data on deaths of people who are homeless reveals no patterns:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/13/toronto-data-on-homeless-deaths-reveals-no-patterns.html
Across the Country
Living on the edge: One Squamish, BC, resident’s story of surviving month-to-month on disability assistance:
http://www.squamishchief.com/news/local-news/living-on-the-edge-1.20585782
Hundreds at risk of homelessness due to City of Vancouver’s reckless inaction:
http://www.pivotlegal.org/hundreds_made_homeless_by_the_city_of_vancouver_s_reckless_inaction_the_city_has_ignored_rotting_conditions_in_sros_for_too_long
- Lawyer for tenants of Balmoral Hotel to challenge Vancouver’s eviction order: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/eviction-order-of-vancouvers-balmoral-hotel-to-be-challenged/article35190102/
- Vancouverites band together for the Balmoral Hotel: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vancouverites-band-together-for-the-balmoralhotel/article35185440/
- Advocates ask how BC could house Balmoral residents within a week, but others wait years: http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/housing-advocates-question-social-housing-for-sro-evictees-amid-homeless-crisis
Government moves to “drag Alberta labour law into the late 20th century”:
http://albertapolitics.ca/2017/06/finally-early-21st-century-ndp-braves-opposition-outrage-drag-alberta-labour-law-late-20th-century/
Manitoba minimum wage increase is “insufficient”, says MLA:
http://www.thereminder.ca/news/local-news/minimum-wage-increase-is-insufficient-mla-lindsey-1.20479488
So many barriers: Forum discussions jobs and accessibility for people with disabilities in PEI:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-employment-accessibility-forum-1.4140586
Saskatchewan school workers say “absolute no” to 3.5% pay cut:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-school-workers-pay-cut-1.4146974
Quebec civil servants occupy Bombardier offices to protest executive bonuses:
https://ricochet.media/en/1860/civil-servants-occupy-bombardier-offices-to-protest-executive-bonuses
National
We have tough work still to do on poverty in Canada:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/joe-gunn/poverty-in-canada_b_17053232.html
Here’s proof that Canada’s richest one percent are leaving everyone behind:
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/heres-proof-that-canadas-richest-one-percent-are-leaving-everyone-behind
Canada joins global deal aimed at keeping billions in taxes from being lost to notorious tax havens:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/06/08/canada-joins-global-deal-aimed-at-keeping-billions-in-taxes-from-being-lost-to-notorious-tax-havens.html
Hate crimes increased in 2015, says Statistics Canada:
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/hate-crimes-increased-in-2015-says-statistics-canada/
Goods made by child labourers flooding into Canada, report warns:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/goods-made-by-child-labourers-flooding-into-canada-report-warns/article35282601/
Trudeau could shuffle cabinet this summer, prorogue Parliament in fall, say insiders:
http://www.hilltimes.com/2017/06/12/speculation-swirling-around-summer-cabinet-shuffle-prorogation-say-sources/110031
International
Trump wants to start charging stores to accept food stamps:
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/07/trump-wants-to-start-charging-stores-to-accept-food-stamps.html
US states with more Black residents have less-generous welfare benefits, report finds:
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/06/08/black-residents-welfare-benefits
Nowhere in America can a full-time minimum wage worker afford to rent a two-bedroom apartment:
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/09/minimum-wage-rent-two-bedroom-apartment/
As small business owners, we know: $15 an hour entirely reasonable:
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/as-small-business-owners-we-know-15-an-hour-entirely-reasonable/
Three myths about the minimum wage:
http://www.startribune.com/three-myths-about-the-minimum-wage/428513483/
Research shows higher minimum wages have not cost Chicago or Illinois jobs:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/research-shows-higher-minimum-wages-have-not-cost-chicago-or-illinois-jobs_us_591e178be4b094cdba52a276
Hawaii becomes first state to pass a bill in support of universal basic income:
https://futurism.com/hawaii-becomes-the-first-state-to-pass-a-bill-in-support-of-universal-basic-income/
OECD agreement strengthens fight against corporate dodgers:
http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/news/oecd-agreement-strengthens-fight-against-corporate-dodgers
Here’s what happened when Iran introduced a basic income:
https://theoutline.com/post/1613/iran-introduces-basic-income
‘They tried to get lawyers’: Devastating cuts to legal aid prevented Grenfell Tower residents accessing advice over safety concerns:
https://www.legalcheek.com/2017/06/they-tried-to-get-lawyers-devastating-cuts-to-legal-aid-prevented-grenfell-tower-residents-accessing-advice-over-safety-concerns/
Australia forging ahead with drug testing welfare recipients despite fierce backlash:
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/06/15/19/42/government-forging-ahead-with-drug-testing-welfare-recipients-despite-fierce-backlash
Drug testing for welfare recipients in Australia slammed as “cheap, populist nonsense”:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-13/victorian-government-rejects-federal-welfare-drug-testing-plan/8613482