Upcoming Webinars
Register now – and forward to others who may have an interest
Dec 10: ARCH Disability Law Clinic hosting a webinar on legal services for people with disabilities:
http://guestlistapp.com/events/214014
Dec 11: Webinar: Advocating for Refugee and Other Precarious Status Clients on Social Assistance Matters
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/advocating-refugee-and-other-precarious-status-clients-social-assistance-matters
Top Stories
Inequality is the defining issue of our time:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/04/inequality-is-the-defining-issue-of-our-time/
Toronto Star compiles comprehensive list of how federal Conservatives are “dismantling social programs built over generations”:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/12/09/conservatives_dismantling_social_programs_built_over_generations.html
New research shows that healthy eating adds $2,000/year to a family’s budget:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/healthy-eating-adds-2k-a-year-to-family-grocery-bill-1.2452451
- More info from Harvard School of Public Health: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/12/pinpointing-the-higher-cost-of-a-healthy-diet/
Internal review of social assistance in Manitoba is disappointing:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/off-welfare-and-into-jobs-report-234867111.html
The OFL’s statement on International Day for People with Disabilities:
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/ofl-statement-make-ontario-a-fully-accessible-province-by-2025-1858670.htm
Wellesley Institute on December 6: Housing is key to battling violence against women:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/housing/violence-against-women-the-importance-of-housing/
Child Care Modernization Act introduced last week:
http://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2013/12/child-care-modernization-act.html
- Some initial notes from the OCBCC on the legislation: http://www.childcareontario.org/highlights_child_care_modernization_act
Wellesley’s Sheila Block, on Ontario’s new legislation on precarious work:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/economics/improved-protection-for-marginalized-workers-esa/
Resources
OECD’s Country Note on Canada’s Income Distribution and Poverty (2008):
http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/41525292.pdf
Ministry of Community and Social Services newsletter on developmental services:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/documents/en/mcss/publications/spotlight/Issue36_november2013.pdf
Around the Province
Inequality is the real issue behind the Rob Ford crisis in Toronto:
http://spacing.ca/toronto/2013/12/04/inequality-real-issue-behind-ford-crisis-toronto/
Call for municipal identification for non-status people in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2013/12/05/municipal_id_urged_for_nonstatus_torontonians.html
The Poor People’s Inquiry makes a stop in Burlington:
http://burlingtongazette.ca/local-peoples-inquiry-supports-a-mock-trial-for-premier-wynne-and-members-of-her-government/
While childcare should be a defining municipal election issue:
http://metronews.ca/voices/urban-compass-toronto-2/878536/next-election-lets-make-childcare-the-issue-and-the-legacy/
Hamilton seeks funding to resolve housing crisis:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4261533-hamilton-seeks-funding-to-fix-housing-crisis/
Across the Country
Free private voicemail: an idea to help low-income and vulnerable people connect:
http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/12/04/voicemail_service_helps_the_homeless_unemployed_reconnect_with_society.html
To address poverty, “wrap children in integrated, coordinated, high-quality academic, social and health programs and supports from cradle to college to career”:
http://www.vancouversun.com/Daphne+Bramham+Solving+poverty+simple/9248558/story.html
Vancouver outlaws the doorknob in favour of accessibility for all:
http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/11/20/vancouver_bans_door_knobs.html
BC hosting community consultations to create a white paper on disability:
http://www.straight.com/news/541501/disability-advocates-share-ideas-bc-government-starts-consultation?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Manning Institute makes the case for a national poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/12/06/manning-foundation-paper-says-poverty-reduction-efforts-in-calgary-are-mostly-ineffective
National
The Spectator Generation: And what it means for social cohesion in Canada:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4260964-the-young-will-inherit-a-future-they-didn-t-choose/
Parliamentary Budget Office says feds padding budget surpluses with EI funds:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/flahertys-planned-surplus-relies-on-keeping-ei-rates-too-high-watchdog-says/article15781473/
Finance Minister Flaherty says the EI surplus will not be used to create a budget surplus:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com//news/politics/ei-funds-will-not-be-used-to-create-budget-surplus-flaherty-says/article15805676/?cmpid=rss1&click=dlvr.it
Finance ministers meeting – improving CPP is top of mind:
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/12/08/bold_action_needed_to_improve_canada_pension_plan_conference_told.html
But the feds are cool to the idea:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/criticism-of-ndp-over-cpp-pulled-from-finance-canada-website/article15803299/
International
Biggest ever fast food workers’ walkout last week:
http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/biggest_ever_fast_food_strike_today_thousands_walk_out_across_100_cities/
Low wage workers organizing:
http://rabble.ca/columnists/2013/12/low-wage-workers-across-us-are-organizing-better-pay-labour-rights
In New Jersey, poverty rates rise and legal assistance dwindles:
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/post_47.html
Cuts to child care subsidies in Monroe County, NY will see people move from work to welfare:
http://wxxinews.org/post/work-welfare-cut-childcare-subsidies
New York Times Room for Debate: Making low wages livable:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/04/making-low-wages-liveable?smid=tw-share
- Jim Stanford: the importance of unions on reducing income inequality: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/04/making-low-wages-liveable/canada-shows-the-power-of-unions
- Ron Unz: Raise the minimum wage: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/04/making-low-wages-liveable/raise-the-minimum-wage-to-12-an-hour
LA considering a bylaw banning providing food in public areas to people who are homeless:
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/please-dont-feed-the-homeless
New Zealand children are suffering from benefits cuts:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9477622/Children-suffering-say-benefit-cut-critics
Reducing poverty in New Zealand will reduce respiratory disease:
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/reducing-poverty-will-reduce-respiratory-disease/5/176577
Poverty reduction can be green and fair:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/dec/05/end-poverty-ensure-equality-sustainability