Top Stories
Former WSIB chair says Ontario’s workers’ compensation system is under attack from within – changes “are undermining decades of progress” and “all Ontarians ought to oppose” them:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/06/27/ontarios_workers_compensation_system_is_under_attack.html#
- A letter to the editor outlines more problems in the WSIB system:http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2014/07/04/wsib_column_doesnt_tell_full_story.html
Ontario’s housing crisis is also a health crisis:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/07/06/ontarios_housing_crisis_is_also_a_health_crisis.html
- Homelessness Hub’s latest infographic: Social determinants of health: http://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/infographic-wednesday-social-determinants-health
Reaction to the Federal Court’s ruling that refugee health care cuts are “cruel and unusual” – and unconstitutional:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/sites/all/files/IFHP%20PRESS%20RELEASE%20FINAL.pdf
New report from Windsor-Essex says 18.3% of families live in poverty, the highest in the province:
http://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2014/06/30/report-paints-bleak-picture-on-poverty/
Ontario
New Legal Aid Ontario program to help unrepresented people resolve family law disputes:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/07/03/legal_aid_hopes_to_discourage_feuding_couples_from_acting_as_own_lawyers.html
Around the Province
More Gladue services in the North to better address the over-representation of Aboriginal peoples in the criminal justice system:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/legal-aid-ontario-to-fund-more-gladue-services-in-thunder-bay-1.2695640
Why a transit fare equity policy for Toronto just makes sense:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2014/07/07/a-better-way-torontos-chance-to-make-transit-fares-more-affordable/
The lack of affordable housing in Toronto, and what’s at the root of the problem:
http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2014/07/04/rental-woes/index.html
The number of people receiving Ontario Works in Muskoka is declining:
http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/4610091-social-assistance-cases-are-decreasing/
Across the Country
Increasing funds for food in social assistance may simply mean money will be spent on rent:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/extra-social-assistance-food-money-could-go-to-rent-1.2695128
Atlantic Premiers release report on impact of EI changes:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/atlantic-premiers-release-report-on-impact-of-ei-changes-1.2692012
- Report “slams changes to EI program”: http://www.troymedia.com/2014/07/06/atlantic-premiers-report-slams-changes-to-ei-program/
- Report says rule changes “created fear among workers”: http://www.thetelegram.com/Business/2014-07-01/article-3783500/Confusing-EI-rules-created-fear-among-Atlantic-Canadian-workers%3A-report/1
- Report is “spot on”: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ei-report-spot-on-says-liberal-mp-dominic-leblanc-1.2694175
- Report “vindicates Kenney”: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Opinion/Editorials/2014-07-04/article-3785643/EI-report-vindicates-Kenney/1
- CUPE “disappointed” with report: http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=47327&latest=1
Ending homelessness in Vancouver requires money and policy change, not self-congratulation:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Saturday+July+homelessness/10001912/story.html
National
What’s wrong with the Universal Child Care Benefit:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/baby-gets-100-month-child-care-its-not-even-close-enough
Editorial: Court ruling on employers’ obligations is a child care victory for working parents:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/07/02/child_care_victory_for_working_parents_editorial.html
Aboriginal Affairs Minister wants to extend pilot program for Aboriginal youth on social assistance:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/politics/Minister+urges+extension+program+aboriginal+youth+into+workforce/10002381/story.html
The new Social Security Tribunal: Massive CPP-D backlog and denial of the rules of natural justice:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-guts-already-overloaded-tribunal/article19485258/#dashboard/follows/
What Finance officials told the federal government about the impact of income splitting:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/did-finance-canada-tell-conservatives-their-income-splitting-scheme
NDP says federal government using Private Members Bills to avoid proper legislative vetting:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/07/03/conservatives-using-prolific-number-of-private-members-bills-to-avoid-proper-vetting-ndp/
CLC condemns federal pension proposals:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2032006
Report from Food Banks Canada: Food banks and the dependence myth:
http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/getmedia/72208e88-a65b-4a91-9e5f-fbb2b574255b/Food-Banks-and-the-Dependence-Myth_final_June-2014.pdf.aspx?ext=.pdf
International
Obama to push for tax loophole closures in order to fund highways:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/01/1310950/-Obama-to-push-closing-corporate-tax-loopholes-to-fund-highways#
What it means to go without water, as 12,500 people in Detroit are cut off for unpaid bills:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/opinion/going-without-water-in-detroit.html?_r=2&referrer
Australian Opposition decries government for demonizing people with disabilities during welfare review:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-30/labor-accuse-government-of-demonising-disabled/5560066
New Zealand child poverty drops back to pre-recession levels:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11289902
But poverty in Ireland isn’t budging:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/numbers-living-in-poverty-up-by-120-000-since-recession-began-1.1849634