Top Ontario Issues
Cities and counties figuring out how to deal with social assistance budget cuts:
ISAC’s latest analysis of the provincial budget explains these cuts and their implications:
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf90&id=f648ad53ba&e=830175e6c5
Upcoming Events
Community Forum in Hamilton, June 7:
“Claiming and Enforcing the Right to an Adequate Standard of Living”
Community Forum in Toronto, June 12:
“Understanding the Poverty of Injured Workers in Ontario”
Day of Action across the country, June 18:
Protest federal cuts to health care for refugees
Ontario Issues
An Op Ed in the Hamilton Spec on the social assistance review:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion/columns/article/723023–mcguinty-does-not-have-no-choice
A relatively easy to understand explanation of the Trillium Benefit, coming this July:
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/credit/otb/index.html
The Ontario Photo Card (OPC) is being made available at all remaining ServiceOntario locations through a scheduled rollout taking place this year – find locations here:
http://www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_residents/ONT06_026364.html
How the mental health system fails people:
http://www.thestar.com/living/health/article/1193532–mental-health-how-three-people-are-falling-through-the-cracks
ACORN wins effort to get remittance legislation introduced:
http://www.acorncanada.org/payday-lending-a-remittances/576-remittance-legislation-to-be-introduced-in-ontario
Star article about P4E’s latest report findings:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1201382–course-fees-still-a-reality-for-ontario-high-school-students
Around the Province
St. Thomas ODSP office to close in October – files and staff to move to London:
http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/2012/05/26/disabilities-caseload-being-shifted-to-london-office
Celebrating new affordable housing at the YWCA Toronto’s Elm Centre:
http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2012/05/governments-of-canada-and-ontario-celebrate-new-affordable-housing-in-toronto-with-ywca.html
Niagara’s Hope Furniture Bank:
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/community/article/1363414–there-s-always-hope
Across the Country
Report from the Homeless Hub: “Poverty Amongst Plenty: Waiting for the Yukon Government to Adopt a Poverty Reduction Strategy”
http://www.homelesshub.ca/ResourceFiles/Final_Yukon_22052012.pdf
What Quebec students are trying to protect – a great graphic!:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/18/how-quebecs-tuition-price-tags-match-up-to-the-rest-of-canada-graphic/
Federal Issues – Poverty
Report from UNICEF finds Canada 24th of 35 countries at fighting child poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1202030–canada-lags-on-fighting-child-poverty-report-finds?bn=1
David Olive is ashamed that people in Canada can’t afford to eat:
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1179701–food-for-thought-why-david-olive-is-ashamed-to-be-a-canadian-today
Canada Without Poverty asks PM to clarify who is responsible for poverty file:
http://www.nupge.ca/content/5026/canada-without-borders-asks-pm-clarify-who-responsible-poverty-file?
Canada Without Poverty launches new federal all-party anti-poverty caucus:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2012/05/new-federal-all-party-anti-poverty-caucus/
Federal Issues – Employment Insurance
Getting tough on “repeat users”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-sweeping-new-ei-rules-get-tough-on-repeat-users/article2442261/
- Why folks in Atlantic Canada are less than thrilled
- Andrew Jackson analyses the changes
- Analysis of EI reforms from the Alberta Federation of Labour
Ottawa decides to end making some EI data public (read: census):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/05/23/employment-insurance-data.html
Other Federal Issues
Big poll says Canada is tilting to the left:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/28/ndp-making-huge-gains-as-canada-tilts-leftward-poll/
Save Libraries and Archives Canada! Not sexy, but oh so important!
http://www.savelibraryarchives.ca/update-2012-05.aspx
Tories set to shut down Commons inquiry into F35s:
http://www.hilltimes.com/news/news/2012/05/28/tories-set-to-shut-commons-inquiry-into-f-35s/30895?page_requested=1
Canada’s golden age coming to an end:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadas-demographic-golden-age-coming-to-an-end/article2444908/
Another “Death by Harper” – this time on the environment:
http://m.thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/05/23/Harper-Kills-ELA/
Abandoning protection of freshwater species:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Harper+abandoning+protection+dozens+freshwater+species+scientists/6691287/story.html#ixzz1wGkcbgnR
Mass firing of ocean scientists:
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/opinion-mass-firing-of-canada2019s-ocean-scientists
PostMedia says 1/4 of defeated Tory candidates ended up on public payroll:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/quarter+defeated+Tory+candidates+landed+public+jobs+after+election+analysis/6687226/story.html#ixzz1w7S6c1Mh
And meanwhile, Fraser Institute gets millions from foreign investors:
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/2012/04/26/fraser-institute-co-founder-confirms-years-and-years-us-oil-billionaires-funding
Economy
CCPA report on the impact the growing savings of the rich are having on the economy – it’s not good:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/21/income-inequality-canada-financial-crisis-instability_n_1534885.html
CCPA report recommends taxing the rich to close the income gap:
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1181806–tax-rich-canadians-to-close-income-gap-report
International
Does lowering taxes actually create growth? No. Here’s proof:
http://www.ippr.org/?p=787&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=17