Top Stories
Provincial advisory panel to release report on minimum wage today – reported to recommend annual inflationary increases:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/27/panel_calls_for_annual_minimum_wage_hikes_pegged_to_inflation.html
“These are people who are working like crazy to support their families, full time, and they just cannot get by. They’re going to food banks to bolster their food intake at the end of every month.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/working-for-nothing-canada-joins-global-minimum-wage-debate/article16508375/
Dr. Gary Bloch in today’s Globe: “I know why the minimum wage needs to rise”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/as-a-doctor-i-know-too-well-why-the-minimum-wage-needs-to-rise/article16516712/#dashboard/follows/
Taxes are like Brussels sprouts, says Kaylie Tiessen of the CCPA Ontario. And that’s a good thing:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4333970-why-taxes-are-like-brussels-sprouts-and-why-that-s-a-good-thing-/#.UuLC6FuGWzE.facebook
Upstream: Changing the political conversation to address the real causes of poverty in Canada:
http://metronews.ca/news/saskatoon/921737/upstream-picking-up-steam-beyond-saskatchewan-borders/
Ottawa Citizen column: Guaranteed Income a good idea:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/touch/story.html?id=9427492
Ontario
Five by-election scenarios, and what each would mean for a general election:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/01/24/byelection_results_could_herald_or_forestall_spring_election.html
MCSS publishes submissions to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, after the Commission’s website is taken down:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/publications/social/socialServices_commssion.aspx
A chief actuary’s possible model for a made-in-Ontario pension plan:
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/01/13/cpp-void/
Around the Province
North Bay Parry Sound Health Board calls on province to increase social assistance rates:
http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=57370
Simcoe Muskoka Board of Health says low social assistance incomes are a threat to health:
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/4326606-low-incomes-called-threat-to-health/
Toronto City Council voting on budget today – Social Planning Toronto has analysis:
http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/news/city-council-votes-on-2014-budget-this-week/
Across the Country
Calgary sees 3.5% decline in EI recipients:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+region+sees+decline+regular+Employment+Insurance+recipients/9420898/story.html
Decline also seen in Saskatchewan:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1102789/number-of-people-receiving-ei-in-saskatchewan-drops-in-november/
But overall, EI recipient numbers remain relatively unchanged:
http://www.citynews.ca/2014/01/23/number-of-people-on-ei-unchanged-in-november-statistics-canada-says/
EI claims process frustrating for new moms in Saskatoon:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-moms-frustrated-with-ei-claim-process-1.2508781
Atlantic Premiers’ Council panel told EI changes bringing depression and fear to region:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2014-01-21/article-3584286/Premiers-council-told-EI-changes-bringing-fear,-depression-to-region/1
PEI woman says end of pilot project meant no income for three months:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2014-01-23/article-3587089/%26lsquo%3BYou-just-survive%26rsquo%3B,-Prince-Edward-Island-woman-says-of-EI-changes/1
“Consistent themes” heard in Atlantic EI consultations:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1181721-ei-panel-hears-consistent-themes
National
EI surpluses continue to be used to pay down the federal deficit; a “break-even” scheme will see contributions – and likely benefits – reduced:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/24/payroll_taxes_up_despite_lowtax_claims_by_jim_flaherty.html
Survey shows employers just want governments “to get on with” pension reforms:
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140124-907852.html
Coddling corporations: CCPA’s Erika Shaker questions governments’ parenting skills:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2014/01/20/permissive-parenting-are-we-raising-a-generation-of-corporate-brats/
International
Actual affirmative action disability hiring targets for US federal government contractors – if they can do it in the land of the free….:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industry-panel-discusses-new-federal-rules-affecting-hiring–recruitment-of-people-with-disabilities-240759281.html
Obama’s State of the Union speech tomorrow to focus on inequality:
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/26/poverty-and-the-education-opportunity-gap-will-obama-step-up-in-sotu/
- http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/war-on-poverty-still-a-political-battle/article_6dbef904-8534-11e3-81ec-001a4bcf6878.html
Op-ed on Massachusetts welfare reforms asks “why the hardheartedness?”:
http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2014/01/17/op-ed-welfare-reform-would-only-deepen-a-poverty-crisis/
Australia about to undertake large-scale welfare review:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/01/21/16/18/unified-welfare-payment-on-menu-again
Advocates welcome the review:
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3929017.htm
Opposition accuses Australian government of manufacturing a welfare crisis:
http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=944926
Australia Post looking at charging for mail delivery:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-21/australia-post-survey-sparks-concern/5211092
Closure of welfare clinics in Ireland to “realign” services causing hardship:
http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/01/25/closure-of-welfare-clinics-another-blow-to-rural-communities/
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week in the UK:
http://www.actionweek.org.uk/about.html
US tech firms hoping to stop G20’s tax avoidance reforms:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/19/tech-firms-attempt-halt-tax-avoidance-reforms?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2