Top Stories
Health Providers Against Poverty issue open letter to Wynne, Hoskins and Jaczek on necessary action for the next Poverty Reduction Strategy:
http://www.healthprovidersagainstpoverty.ca/node/367
First Nation issues eviction notice to City of Vancouver after City tries to evict people who are homeless:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/oppenheimer-homeless-camp-first-nations-members-issue-eviction-notice-to-vancouver-1.2712736
Inclusive zoning: Vancouver’s done it, can Toronto be next?
http://www.thegridto.com/city/politics/if-you-build-inclusively-they-will-still-come/
- Here’s how not to do inclusive zoning. Zoning, yes. Inclusive, no:http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/07/21/3462120/new-york-city-poor-door/
Canada Revenue Agency says “preventing poverty” not allowed as a charitable goal:
http://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2014/07/24/canada-revenue-agency-says-preventing-poverty-not-allowed-as-goal-for-charity/
Ontario
An analysis of Budget 2014 says harsh austerity is coming:
http://rabble.ca/news/2014/06/breaking-down-liberal-austerity-detailed-analysis-budget-2014
Ban on recruitment fees for migrant workers a start, but proactive enforcement needed:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2058688
Ending wait lists for developmental disability services tops in all party report:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/07/22/no_more_wait_lists_for_disabled_in_ontario_says_allparty_report.bb.html
Around the Province
Anti-poverty groups in Windsor to launch living wage campaign in the fall:
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/business/anti-poverty-groups-push-for-local-living-wage
Community garden in Niagara Falls feeds people and grows friendships:
http://www.forterietimes.ca/2014/07/16/poverty-community-gardens-grow-friendships
Across the Country
Halifax activist says fixing poverty is within our grasp:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1224828-poverty-fix-in-our-grasp-yet-we-stall
Alberta politicians enact poverty simulation; poverty reduction strategy in jeopardy:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Alberta+politicians+challenged+play+poor/10051649/story.html
PEI advocates say social assistance food allowance numbers don’t add up:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Opinion/2014-07-18/article-3804176/Numbers-don%26rsquo%3Bt-add-up-on-social-assistance/1
Is PEIs change of heart on Ontario’s pension plan a flip-flop, or pragmatism?
http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/4638545-another-view-stepping-back-on-a-provincial-pension-plan/
BC’s Delta Optimist says Guaranteed Minimum Income worth a second look:
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/guaranteed-minimum-income-is-deserving-of-a-closer-look-1.1256565#
National
Seven reasons disabled Canadians are losing CPP benefits:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/seven-reasons-why-disabled-canadians-are-losing-cpp-benefits/article19630200/?cmpid=rss1
The Agenda asks, is Ottawa fighting the deficit with EI premium increases?
http://theagenda.tvo.org/blog/agenda-blogs/federal-government-slaying-deficit-ei-increases
- Here’s the Mowat post: http://mowatcentre.ca/federal-budget-surplus-coming-from-your-ei-premiums/
- What’s happening to EI? Asks Hamilton Legal. In a word, Cuts: http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/did-you-know.php
- Supreme Court sides with government over EI surplus case:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/07/17/supreme_court_sides_with_federal_government_in_ei_surplus_case.html
- CLC response: EI is failing unemployed workers in Canada: http://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/statements/employment-insurance-failing-unemployed-workers-canada
- NUPGE response: http://nupge.ca/content/11764/scc-rules-case-ei-contributions-bound-fail
Press Progress: How the Harper government plays with your emotions to sell you meaningless tax credits:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/how-harper-government-plays-your-emotions-sell-you-meaningless-tax-credits
Canada Without Poverty: How the positive court decision on refugee health care could hurt the poor:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2014/07/how-the-refugee-heath-care-decision-could-hurt-the-poor/
- Note: Ontario is billing Ottawa for $2 million in refugee health care costs: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/ontario-will-bill-ottawa-2-million-refugee-health-costs
Restaurant owners take Ottawa to court over restrictions to migrant workers program:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/07/24/foreign_workers_program_challenged_in_court.html
International
New website matches donors with people who need helping paying their Detroit water bill to avoid disconnection or get reconnected:
http://www.citylab.com/tech/2014/07/a-new-site-allows-you-to-pay-a-detroit-residents-water-bill/374783/
- Here’s the website: http://detroit-water-project.herokuapp.com/index.html#help-a-resident
- Council of Canadians delivers water to Detroit to protest shutoffs:http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/24/canadians-deliver-water-to-protest-detroit-shutoffs/13130625/
In NYC: When poverty makes you sick, a lawyer might help with the cure:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/when-poverty-makes-you-sick-a-lawyer-can-be-the-cure/
Japan’s Supreme Court rules “foreigners” not entitled to state welfare:
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/07/19/national/social-issues/welfare-ruling-stuns-foreigners/#.U9AOObGH-Sp
- Irish advocates say social welfare entitlements should be more accessible to migrants:http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/call-for-social-welfare-entitlements-to-be-more-accessible-to-migrants-1.1875768
- Swedish restrictions on benefits for undocumented migrants mean more living on the street:http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/11267-undocumented-immigrants-now-only-receive-emergency-housing-assistance.html
Laws targeting people who are homeless increasing in the USA:
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/no-solutions-laws-make-everything-about-homelessness-illegal-have-increased
- Child poverty rates are also increasing in the USA: http://archive.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/usatoday/article/12961643
UK think-tank urges finding savings by limiting child benefits to four children per household:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/17/proposed-limit-of-uk-child-benefit-to-four-per-household