Top Stories
1) The minimum wage in Ontario. There’s far too much coverage to list it all here, but here are a few highlights
The Ontario government’s announcement – an increase to $11 in June and legislation to index to inflation:
http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2014/01/ontario-increasing-minimum-wage.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p
Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage says indexing is good, but addressing wage poverty is the real issue:
http://raisetheminimumwage.ca/updates/press-release-workers-say-annual-indexation-on-minimum-wage-is-a-needed-first-step-but-falls-far-short-of-whats-required/
Raising the minimum wage could rescue the economy:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/raising-minimum-wage-could-rescue-the-economy-don-pittis-1.2516796?cmp=rss
Inflationary increase keeps minimum wage workers stuck in poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/01/27/longawaited_report_on_minimum_wage_increases_does_little_to_help_the_working_poor_editorial.html
Yakabuski: The poor will pay for a minimum wage increase:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/who-pays-for-minimum-wage-hikes-the-poor/article16603374/#dashboard/follows/
But, said Andrew Jackson back in March, that’s really not the case:
https://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/en/blog/minimum-wage-hikes-benefits-offset-costs
Thornhill PC candidate’s take – there’s no minimum wage workers in her riding:
http://m.yorkregion.com/news-story/4338455-no-adults-on-minimum-wage-in-thornhill-says-martow/
Fiorito: Six bits isn’t going to make a difference:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/01/31/minimum_wage_maximum_absurdity_fiorito.html
What they’re saying in Peterborough:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2014/01/28/mixed-reaction-locally-to-minimum-wage-tied-to-inflation
And in Sault Ste. Marie:
http://www.saultstar.com/2014/01/29/sault-chamber-president-says-effort-should-be-focused-on-business-growth-rather-than-minimum-wage
Letter to the Premier on health benefits of hiking minimum wage above poverty:
http://accessalliance.ca/content/letter-premier-1
Why $14 an hour could put the Premier on the right side of history:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/trish-hennessy/2014/01/14-minimum-wage-could-put-ontario-on-right-side-history
2) Income Splitting: Who Benefits?
The CCPA released a report showing that the federal government’s plan to introduce income splitting would benefit the rich the most, while middle income and poorer Canadians would see virtually no benefit.
Report here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/income-splitting-canada
- Star – Income splitting would make inequality worse:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/28/harper_governments_incomesplitting_plan_would_favour_rich_tax_study_finds.html
- CBC: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/income-splitting-aids-wealthiest-families-most-says-study-1.2513255
- National Newswatch: http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2014/01/29/a-fancy-way-for-the-rich-to-skin-the-poor/
3) It’s Corporate Tax Freedom Day!
By the end of January, Canadian corporations have paid their entire share of taxes to all levels of government in Canada.
What have corporate tax cuts delivered for Canadians?
http://www.canadianlabour.ca/news-room/publications/what-did-corporate-tax-cuts-deliver-background-report-corporate-tax-freedom-d
The CLC’s Ken Georgetti explains:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ken-georgetti/corporate-tax_b_4689377.html
Ontario
New project to improve health care treatment for people with mental health issues:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/60-million-slated-for-newly-created-psychiatry-alliance/article16542521/#dashboard/follows/
New poll shows Liberals leading, but would only form a minority:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/new-poll-has-wynnes-liberals-leading-but-still-looking-at-minority/article16601522/#dashboard/follows/
Ontario Health Minister says feds cut to refugee health more expensive in long run:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cutting-health-care-for-refugee-claimants-expensive-in-long-run-ont-health-minister-says/
Around the Province
Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty disrupts council meeting over shelter services:
- http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/story/activists-interrupt-council-meeting-challenge-sudb/21085
- http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2014/01/29-scap-protest-city-sudbury.aspx
City of Toronto’s new Guide to Services for People who are Homeless:
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=6300ee5c3ed91410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=cfa2d62869211410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD
Immigrant workers not paid their below minimum wages go after Toronto employer with legal clinic’s help:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2014/01/31/chinese_immigrants_go_after_restaurant_chain_for_owed_wages.html
Across the Country
Saskatchewan citizens’ billboard calls for corporation to pay taxes owed:
- http://globalnews.ca/news/1111095/billboard-asks-cameco-to-pay-taxes-owed/
- http://metronews.ca/news/canada/923187/billboard-asks-cameco-to-pay-taxes-owed/
- http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Groups+billboard+tells+Cameco/9438276/story.html
- http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-billboard-pressures-cameco-to-pay-taxes-1.2514260
National
CBC Aboriginal: What it takes for aboriginal people to make the news:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/what-it-takes-for-aboriginal-people-to-make-the-news-1.2514466?cmp=rss
Proposed federal balanced budget laws aren’t what Canada needs:
https://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/en/blog/canada-needs-sound-fiscal-thinking-not-balanced-budget-laws
Federal budget could tighten tax loopholes:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1703259
International
Seattle socialist council member will take only average worker’s wage:
http://www.socialistalternative.org/2014/01/29/sawant-affirms-election-pledge-accepting-average-workers-wage/
Prosecutors in the UK drop case against men caught stealing discarded food:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/29/prosecutors-drop-case-men-food-iceland-bins