Top Stories
Seven months in a shelter, still searching for a home:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/09/seven-months-in-a-shelter-still-searching-for-a-home.html
- Average rent in Toronto passes $2,000 a month, report finds: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/07/07/toronto-tenants-face-tighter-squeeze-report.html
Sudbury agrees to maintain funding to help those on social assistance:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/discretionary-funds-sudbury-city-budget-2018-1.4201125
- Council opts to fund social service benefits province won’t: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/council-opts-to-fund-social-service-benefits-province-wont-669224
Sears managers to earn thousands in bonuses while laid-off workers get no severance:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/sears-laid-off-restructuring-bonus-1.4204178
- Sears Canada, former employees reach compromise on benefits, pension payments: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sears-canada-health-benefits-court-1.4202842
- What Sears Canada’s case says about how safe your retirement benefits are:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3579070/what-sears-canadas-case-says-about-how-safe-your-retirement-benefits-are/
Bank of Canada governor credits Canada Child Benefit stimulus with stronger economy:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/bank-governor-credits-liberal-stimulus-with-stronger-economy-1.3500252?autoPlay=true
- Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to ¾ per cent: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2017/07/fad-press-release-2017-07-12/
- Interest rate hike: Most Canadians would struggle to pay just $130 more a month, survey shows: http://globalnews.ca/news/3586813/canadians-debt-interest-rate-increase/
- Canada needs a raise, not a higher interest rate: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/07/11/canada-needs-raise-not-higher-interest-rate/
Fear of losing custody stops pregnant women from disclosing homelessness, Toronto numbers show:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/02/fear-of-losing-custody-stops-pregnant-women-from-disclosing-homelessness-toronto-numbers-show.html
- Star editorial: Homeless births need tracking: http://startouch.thestar.com/screens/dd997b32-450f-44d8-9029-e7faa47c49d7%7C_0.html
Outside the echo-chamber of commerce: Why a $15 minimum wage is good for Ontario:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/07/10/15-minimum-wage-good-for-ontario/
- Liberals happy to take the heat for $15 minimum wage — and there’s a lot of it: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/reevely-liberals-happy-to-take-the-heat-for-15-minimum-wage-and-theres-a-lot-of-it
- Employers push back at minimum wage hike: http://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-news/employers-push-back-at-minimum-wage-hike-227954.aspx
- Ottawa businesses fear wage hike could force layoffs: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/minimum-wage-hearings-ontario-2017-wynne-1.4173941
- Thunder Bay small business owners tell legislative committee, raising minimum wage to $15 isn’t affordable: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/small-business-owners-tell-legislative-committee-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-isnt-affordable-668025
- Bill 148 will devastate business says Chamber: http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/news/local/2017/7/12/bill-148-legislation-will-devastate-business-says-chamber.html
- Orillia small business owners share concerns about proposed minimum wage increase: http://www.orilliapacket.com/2017/07/11/small-business-owners-share-concerns-about-the-proposed-minimum-wage-increase
- Mississauga Board of Trade endorses open letter urging premier to slow down labour reform: https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/7417940-board-of-trade-endorses-open-letter-urging-premier-to-slow-down-labour-reform/
- Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce calls to slow down minimum wage process: http://www.haliburtonecho.ca/slow-down-minimum-wage-process-chamber
- Ontario wants your input on a $15 minimum wage: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-minimum-wage-hike-employment-1.4197267
- Ontario minimum wage committee hearings a bit of an eye opener: http://globalnews.ca/news/3590212/ontario-minimum-wage-committee-hearings-a-bit-of-an-eye-opener/
- North Bay hearing listens to minimum wage concerns: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/12/north-bay-hearing-listens-to-minimum-wage-concerns
- Minimum wage increase of 32% in 18 months too fast, province hears: http://www.saultstar.com/2017/07/12/minimum-wage-increase-of-32-in-18-months-too-fast-province-hears
- Fruit and vegetable farmers worried about $15 minimum wage: http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/fruit-and-vegetable-farmers-worried-about-15-minimum-wage-1.3496935
- Ontario’s minimum wage hike is too much, too fast, and could cause job losses, business coalition warns: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/07/10/ontarios-minimum-wage-hike-is-too-much-too-fast-and-could-cause-job-losses-business-coalition-warns.html
- Barrie business owner concerned about minimum wage boost: https://www.simcoe.com/opinion-story/7406355-barrie-business-owner-concerned-about-minimum-wage-boost/
- “Keep Ontario Working”– the Chamber of Commerce’s website against the employment and labour law changes: http://keepontarioworking.ca/
- Hamilton Council spends over an hour debating Bill 148: https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2017/07/council-spends-over-an-hour-debating-provincial-bill-148-minimum-wage-increase/
- Hamilton councillors delay supporting Ontario’s labour reform legislation: https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/7416102-hamilton-councillors-delay-supporting-ontario-s-labour-reform-legislation/
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business shut out of minimum wage talks: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/13/cfib-shut-out-of-ontarios-minimum-wage-talks
- “My message to business executives and others campaigning against a $15 minimum wage is this: If your business cannot afford to pay a $15 minimum wage, then you should probably not be in business”: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/11/spare-me-the-hysteria-over-minimum-wage-hikes
- A $15 minimum wage is a feminist issue: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ywca-toronto/a-15-minimum-wage-is-a-feminist-issue_a_23026790/
- Three cheers for a $15 an hour minimum wage: https://www.mississauga.com/opinion-story/7419670-point-counter-point-three-cheers-for-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage/
- 40 economists support Ontario minimum wage increase – here’s one of them: http://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/40-economists-support-ont-minimum-wage-increase-here-s-one-of-them-1.2797043
- Workplace laws need further changes: Horwath: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/07/13/workplace-laws-need-further-changes-horwath.html
- Patrick Brown on minimum wage hike, carbon pricing, autism services: https://omny.fm/shows/the-andrew-lawton-show/patrick-brown-on-summer-tour-of-province
- Workers’ Action Centre: Let’s defend and strengthen Bill 148 – Submission deadline July 21: http://mailchi.mp/workersactioncentre/defend-and-strengthen-bill-148-submission-deadline?e=51059eb750
How we can start to walk the path of reconciliation:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/barahona-how-we-can-start-to-walk-the-path-of-reconciliation
Canadians’ real wages are shrinking. Is that why we’re falling into an “endless debt cycle”?
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/07/11/canadians-real-wages-are-shrinking-is-that-why-were-falling-i_a_23025302/
CMHC tells Ontario housing co-ops to abandon low-income members:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cmhc-tells-ontario-housing-co-ops-to-abandon-low-income-members-634323663.html
Canada adds 45,300 jobs in June while unemployment edges down to 6.5%:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/07/07/canada-adds-45-300-jobs-in-june-while-unemployment-rate-edges-down-to-6-5.html
Police ticketing panhandlers and people who are homeless: Legal challenge:
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2017/07/12/police-ticketing-panhandlers-homeless-legal-challenge/
Legal challenge targets rejected chronic mental stress workers’ compensation claims:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7408548-legal-challenge-targets-rejected-chronic-mental-stress-workers-compensation-claims/#.WWTcwBxJkYM.twitter
Four more Indigenous youth take their own lives in Northern Ontario, sparking calls for action:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/four-more-indigenous-young-people-take-own-lives-in-northern-ontario-sparking-calls-for-actions/article35581421/
Toronto councillor left a huge legacy and big project for her council colleagues: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/12/pam-mcconnell-left-a-huge-legacy-to-toronto-and-a-big-legacy-project-for-her-council-colleagues-keenan.html
Why do poor people smoke, and rich people quit?:
http://www.thinkupstream.net/the_smoking_gap
Ontario
Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and OPSEU forge historic partnership:
https://www.nupge.ca/content/mississaugas-new-credit-first-nation-and-opseu-forge-historic-partnership
Together the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres take steps towards reconciliation:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/together-ohrc-and-ofifc-take-steps-towards-reconciliation
Province plans to further clamp down on payday loans, government cheque cashers and rent-to-owns:
https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2017/07/province-plans-to-further-clampdown-on-pay-day-loans-gov-cheque-cashes-and-rent-to-owns/
Ontario to change child support law to give adult children with disabilities access to parental cash:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/08/ontario-to-change-child-support-law-to-give-adult-children-with-disabilities-access-to-parental-cash.html
Ontario developers form group aimed at mitigating housing reform:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-developers-form-group-aimed-at-mitigating-housing-reform/article35651627/
Government release: Ontario’s economic growth continues to lead G7 countries:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/07/ontarios-economic-growth-continues-to-lead-g7-countries.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
July 18: Toronto Fight for $15 and Fairness Organizing Meeting:
https://www.facebook.com/events/149531105618742/?active_tab=discussion
Upcoming cross-provincial Fight for $15 and Fairness events:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Fightfor15andFairness/events/
New CCPA report: Ontario Needs a Raise: Who benefits from a $15 minimum wage?:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Ontario%20Office/2017/07/Ontario_Needs_a_Raise_2017.pdf
July 20: OCAP Speakers Series: Poverty and Disability:
https://ocaptoronto.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/speakers-series-poverty-disability/
Stats Can: Family income and income of individuals, related variables: Sub-provincial data, 2015:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170712/dq170712c-eng.htm
Stats Can: New housing price index, May 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170713/dq170713b-eng.htm
Stats Can: Job vacancies, first quarter 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170713/dq170713a-eng.htm
Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/edmonton-commits-to-ending-homelessness?e=6da7d6f883
Around the Province
Toronto to expand emergency drop-ins:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/06/city-to-expand-emergency-drop-ins.html
New affordable housing in St. Catherines, for “opportunity and hope”:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/07/10/new-affordable-housing-for-opportunity-and-hope
Niagara’s jobless rate spikes; tourism jobs unfilled:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/07/10/unemployment-rate-increases-in-niagara
A man who is homeless and has disabilities to be evicted from an Etobicoke park:
http://www.680news.com/video/2017/07/03/video-disabled-homeless-man-to-be-evicted-from-etobicoke-park/
BIG program moving forward for 2000 Lindsay residents:
https://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/7412471-basic-income-guarantee-program-moving-forward-for-2-000-lindsay-residents/
Seniors left behind as services flee smaller towns:
http://www.countyweeklynews.ca/2017/07/08/seniors-left-behind-as-services-flee-smaller-towns
Across the Country
Disappearing jobs: NL unemployment rate now 14.9%:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/unemployment-rate-newfoundland-labrador-1.4194559
Five Nova Scotia steps to a $15 minimum wage:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1484426-black-five-nova-scotia-steps-to-a-15-minimum-wage
Organizations oppose Quebec’s proposed welfare sanctions:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/organizations-oppose-quebecs-proposed-welfare-sanctions
Opinion: Public transit in Montreal should be free:
http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-public-transit-in-montreal-should-be-free
No “last call”? Proposed rules for restricting liquor sales in La Ronge, Sask stir debate:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/no-last-call-rules-restricting-liquor-sales-1.4202543
Affordable housing units officially opened in Weyburn, Sask:
http://www.weyburnreview.com/news/local-news/affordable-housing-units-officially-opened-1.21065409
Regina family holds funeral in their backyard because of social assistance cuts to funeral benefits:
http://regina.ctvnews.ca/regina-family-holds-funeral-in-their-backyard-1.3494346
UFCW Shoppers Drug Mart workers in Cloverdale, BC ratify collective agreement:
http://www.ufcw1518.com/bargaining/unionized-shoppers-drug-mart-workers-ratify-contract/
Vancouver property owners “panic” to rent as vacancy tax implemented:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/property-owners-panic-as-vacancy-tax-takes-effect-1.4190576
Government partners integrate injection-drug rooms into supportive-housing sites around Vancouver:
http://www.straight.com/news/936596/government-partners-integrate-injection-drug-rooms-supportive-housing-sites-around
Judy Graves, Vancouver advocate for people who are homeless, to run in city by-election:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/judy-graves-vancouver-advocate-for-the-homeless-to-run-in-city-by-election/article35678982/
Refugees’ legal aid cuts in BC “pretty shocking” as deadline nears: lawyer:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/07/12/refugees-legal-aid-cuts-pretty-shocking-as-deadline-nears.html
Jason Kenney’s financial situation doesn’t compare to minimum wage:
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/sabir-kenneys-financial-situation-doesnt-compare-to-minimum-wage
National
Workers, unions must fight for a piece of the pie:
http://www.thetelegram.com/opinion/columnists/2017/7/8/lana-payne–workers–unions-must-fight-for-a-piece-of-the-pie.html
Feds should move faster on changes to mandatory victim surcharges:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201707106284/headline-news/feds-should-move-faster-on-surcharge-changes
Fact sheet: Public transit, privatization and the Canada Infrastructure Bank:
https://cupe.ca/fact-sheet-public-transit-privatization-and-canada-infrastructure-bank
Forgotten refugees say they’re tired of waiting for their cases to be heard:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/07/06/forgotten-refugees-say-theyre-tired-of-waiting-for-their-cases-to-be-heard.html?platform=hootsuite
Refugee health clinic sees surge of uninsured pediatric patients:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/06/26/refugee-health-clinic-sees-surge-of-uninsured-pediatric-patients.html
Extending maternity leave won’t help women returning to work:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/extending-maternity-leave-wont-help-women-returning-to-work/article35596719/
Debunking the Fraser Institute’s scaremongering on Indigenous rights:
http://www.straight.com/news/934906/seth-klein-debunking-fraser-institutes-latest-scaremongering-indigenous-rights
Changes to bail in Canada make it fairer for those with low income:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/changes-to-bail-in-canada-make-it-fairer-for-those-with-low-/
Candidates for NDP leadership say yes, we can eliminate poverty:
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/09/eliminate-poverty-yes-we-can-say-ndp-candidates
International
Disability rights protesters block roads in Israel as fight for increased disability payments continues:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Protesters-block-roads-as-fight-for-increased-disability-payments-continues-499232
UK faces tightest squeeze on household incomes for five years:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/06/british-households-squeezed-by-rising-prices-after-brexit-vote
Scotland is giving out free tampons to tackle “period poverty”:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/3am-fashion-celebrity-beauty/scotland-giving-out-free-tampons-10782296
US schools rethink “lunch shaming” policies that humiliate children with meal debts:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/u-s-schools-rethink-lunch-shaming-policies-humiliate-children-meal-debts/
US advocates say pay equity can fight poverty:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/3am-fashion-celebrity-beauty/scotland-giving-out-free-tampons-10782296
US jobs growth faster than expected:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40532594
In Venezuela, minimum wage isn’t enough to fend off hunger anymore:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/07/10/in-venezuela-minimum-wage-isnt-enough-to-fend-off-hunger-anymore.html
How not being able to afford diapers hurts mothers’ mental health and their ability to parent:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/07/diaper-need/399041/?utm_source=atlfb
Does this Canadian province have the solution to the world’s problem of unemployment?:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/canada-justin-trudeau-ontario-basic-income-kathleen-wynne-a7823126.html
Universal Basic Income is just a bedtime story Elon Musk tells himself to help the super-wealthy sleep:
https://qz.com/1024938/ubi-is-just-a-bedtime-story-elon-musk-tells-himself-to-help-the-super-wealthy-sleep/
Can homelessness happen to anyone? Don’t believe the hype:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/can-homelessness-happen-to-anyone/
I grew up on food stamps. I’ll never forget the sneering looks:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/12/food-stamps-poverty-america-shame?CMP=share_btn_fb
Why more jobs and degrees won’t reduce poverty:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/07/12/why-more-jobs-and-degrees-won-reduce-poverty/lTzft5BMidw2Pqw5DCDAWP/story.html
Are you ready to consider that capitalism is the real problem?:
https://www.fastcompany.com/40439316/are-you-ready-to-consider-that-capitalism-is-the-real-problem