Top Stories
Ontario Campaign 2000 releases its latest report card on Ontario’s progress on child poverty – and the results aren’t good:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/27/ontario_off_track_for_child_poverty_reduction_annual_report_card_says.html
Response from the NDP’s Cheri DiNovo:
http://ontariondp.com/en/low-income-families-need-real-results-not-more-false-promises
A new McMaster University / United Way of Toronto study on precarious employment in the GTA and Hamilton gets great coverage:
- http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2013/02/26/workers_with_unstable_jobs_left_behind_by_outdated_social_programs_editorial.html
- http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/23/half_of_gta_and_hamilton_workers_in_precarious_jobs.html
- http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/23/job_insecurity_when_a_smaller_paycheque_is_better.html
- http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/24/new_thinking_needed_to_support_workers_in_unstable_jobs.html
- http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/25/ontario_premier_kathleen_wynne_wants_to_stop_spread_of_precarious_work.html
Former justice Frank Iacobucci releases report condemning Ontario for lack of Aboriginal representation on juries:
http://www.canada.com/Aboriginals+lack+voice+juries+former+supreme+court+judge/8017638/story.html
- Response from Ontario’s Attorney General: http://news.ontario.ca/mag/en/2013/02/statement-from-attorney-general-on-the-review-of-first-nations-representation-on-juries.html
- Note that a link to the report is on the Ontario government’s website above
Ontario
Poll shows Tories would win next government, but Wynne has made strides for Libs:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/02/22/poll_suggests_hudak_tories_could_win_minority_but_wynne_has_pulled_liberals_out_of_tailspin.html
Notes from Kathleen Wynne’s swearing-in speech:
http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2013/02/the-way-forward.html
Link to the Throne Speech:
http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/news/thronespeech.php?Lang=EN
Poverty Free Ontario responds to the Throne Speech
http://www.povertyfreeontario.ca/2013/02/19/fair-ontario-still-a-faint-hope-for-people-in-deep-poverty/
Finance Minister Sousa wants good ideas for the budget:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/treasurer-charles-sousa-wants-good-ideas-for-ontario-budget/article8594565/
- Note he says he wants to “control and eliminate our deficit while at the same time looking at the long term so that we deal compassionately in those things that matter”
The 25in5 Network for Poverty Reduction has launched an on-line pre-budget campaign:
http://25in5.ca/
And the OFL has launched a public pre-budget consultation process called “The People’s Budget”:
http://ofl.ca/index.php/thepeoplesbudget/
Resources, Reports, Conferences and Other Great Stuff
Here’s the link to the McMaster / United Way study:
http://pepso.ca/
Changes have been made to the Special Diet Allowance program as a result of ISAC’s legal work – people with certain medical conditions may now be eligible:
http://www.incomesecurity.org/SpecialDietChangesFeb2013.htm
A new study shows “doctors prefer bankers to welfare recipients”:
- Star editorial:http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2013/02/26/a_toronto_bias_study_shows_doctors_prefer_bankers_to_welfare_recipients_editorial.html
- Star article: http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2013/02/25/are_ontario_family_doctors_more_likely_to_take_on_wealthier_patients.html
- Link to the study: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2013/02/25/cmaj.121383
A great new webinar from the ODSP Action Coalition: “ODSP: Know Your Benefits”:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/86203
The Coalition for Persons with Disabilities is hosting a two-day conference on encouraging better inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce:
http://thecaribbeancamera.com/?p=1102
The Low Income Energy Network’s annual conference is coming up:
http://www.lowincomeenergy.ca/2013/02/register-now-for-the-2013-lien-annual-conference/
Richard Wilkinson’s TED Talk on how inequality harms societies:
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html
Around the Province
The CCPA-Ontario’s Trish Hennessy speaks about inequality in Mississauga:
http://www.mississauga.com/community/article/1584327–gulf-widening-between-rich-and-poor-in-canada-says-think-tank
Toronto Council becomes a “Sanctuary City” for undocumented newcomers – a history of the campaign and next steps are here:
http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=7755f19656ced319203acd088&id=a73d9479fd&e=[UNIQID
Toronto anti-homelessness advocates recently camp out at Mayor Ford’s office:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/02/15/toronto_homeless_protest_outside_mayor_rob_fords_office.html
Across the Country
A great op-ed on inequality in Alberta: “The province continues to be governed as if the theory of trickle-down economics actually worked”
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/OpEd+oats+road+enough/7961370/story.html
And the Parkland Institute’s prescription for revenue generation in Alberta:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Province+could+eliminate+flat+increase+revenues+billion+Parkland+Institute/8024106/story.html#ixzz2MDrgsF3I
Alberta releases its new Social Policy Framework:
http://www.enoughforall.ca/media-release-government-of-alberta-releases-provincial-social-policy-framework/
Meanwhile in BC, the government seems to be opening up to the tax discussion:
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2013/02/28/BC-Tax-Increases/
On the ineffectiveness of balanced budget legislation:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/balanced-budget-legislation-works-only-in-theory/article8901114/
Payday loan companies are in government crosshairs, in Ontario and elsewhere:
http://business.financialpost.com/2013/02/27/payday-loan-companies-in-government-crosshairs/
On social exclusion by middle-class society on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside:
http://www.theprovince.com/Upper+classes+missing+point+made+marginalized/7995048/story.html
Manitobans are asked to contribute to government’s Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion Strategy:
http://www.mysteinbach.ca/newsblog/19443.html
National
On the disproportionate negative impact of tax cuts on women:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2013/02/28/budget_2013_women_cannot_afford_more_tax_cuts_for_the_rich.html
An op-ed on building a better pension system in Canada using the CPP:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2013/02/28/building_a_better_pension_system_in_canada.html
This author says increasing the minimum wage isn’t the best policy response to poverty:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/02/19/want-to-help-the-poor-dont-waste-your-time-with-the-minimum-wage/
25 years on, the data shows free trade with the USA hasn’t been the success that was promised:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2013/02/21/brian_mulroney_and_the_harsh_reality_of_canadaus_free_trade_hepburn.html
The federal government makes house calls to enforce EI rules:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/02/21/pol-cp-employment-insurance-house-calls.html
Refugee claims plummet after new federal fast-track rules enacted:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/new-fast-track-rules-see-big-drop-in-refugee-asylum-claims/article8961268/
The CMHC’s comment on an NDP proposal for a national housing strategy raises eyebrows:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/crown-corporation-s-comments-on-ndp-housing-bill-shocks-critics-1.1175347
A Guelph MP’s speech on the need for a national housing strategy:
http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion/columns/article/890041–canada-needs-a-national-housing-strategy-now
Senator Hugh Segal takes on Conservative attacks on unions:
http://lawofwork.ca/?p=6273
International
The OECD is urging governments to go after multinational tax dodgers to ensure sufficient revenues
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/02/12/oecd-multinational-taxes.html
Why the UK’s Chancellor is committed to global tax reform:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/feb/16/george-osborne-on-his-tax-reform-agenda
New poll in Australia shows most people with disabilities face social exclusion:
http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/02/australians-fail-social-inclusion-test-people-disability#
Australian business leader calls on cutting welfare “to protect our future”:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/cut-welfare-to-protect-our-future-says-don-argus/story-fn59niix-1226583906255
Poverty in Greece has reached 31%:
http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/02/26/crisis-pushes-greek-poverty-to-31/
Tough economic times leave Japanese day labourers jobless, homeless, and on welfare:
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/business/AJ201302240036
Bloomberg’s editorial board wonders why US taxpayers should give banks $83 billion every year:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-20/why-should-taxpayers-give-big-banks-83-billion-a-year-.html
California adopts new disability discrimination regulations:
http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/222142/Discrimination+Disability+Sexual+Harassment/California+Adopts+New+Disability+Discrimination+Regulations
A Californian urges increasing the minimum wage to end corporate welfare:
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/mailbag/marc-perkel-low-minimum-wage-is-corporate-welfare/article_965d3693-bd70-5a7d-b7cf-9d99266a84c4.html
An interesting study shows that US states where people help each other suffered less unemployment during the recession than other states:
http://philanthropy.com/article/High-Volunteerism-Can-Mean/129109/?goback=.nmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1
Will Obama’s minimum wage hike help Americans out of poverty or kill jobs?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/would-obamas-minimum-wage-plan-lift-millions-out-of-poverty-or-kill-jobs/article8591882/
A very odd rationale for increasing the US minimum wage, from the Catholic Online:
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=49834
In Florida, the court has upheld a temporary injunction barring drug testing for people receiving welfare:
http://www.pnj.com/viewart/20130227/NEWS02/302270022/Temporary-ban-on-welfare-drug-testing-upheld
But in Kansas and Michigan, drug testing continues to be pursued by legislators:
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/02/25/4086020/bill-that-requires-drug-testing.html
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/indiana&id=9006366
And meanwhile in North Dakota, drug testing is defeated:
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2013/feb/23/north_dakota_welfare_drug_testin
And a rationale against drug testing in Washington:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/22/2284384/drug-testing-for-welfare-less.html