Top Stories
(Ed. note: we’ll back in the week of February 22!)
Art Eggleton on three ways to end poverty in Canada – education, basic income, and tax reform:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/01/05/three_ways_to_end_poverty_in_canada.html
- Is Quebec’s promised basic income a Trojan horse for neoliberalism?: https://ricochet.media/en/931/is-quebecs-guaranteed-minimum-income-a-trojan-horse
Most Syrian refugees coming to Canada will live below the poverty line:
https://news.vice.com/article/most-syrian-refugees-coming-to-canada-will-live-below-the-poverty-line
- Sherad Kerur: Refugees’ needs expose Canada’s housing crisis: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/05/refugees-needs-expose-canadas-housing-crisis.html
- Canada’s housing sector calls for 100,000 new affordable homes to meet critical need: http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3ab6441cec1986db191b15a35&id=f8345b38e2
- Anti-poverty activists want $3.2 billion for affordable housing: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/04/anti-poverty-activists-ask-liberals-for-3-2b-in-budget-for-affordable-housing_n_9158628.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics&ir=Canada+Politics
Solutions to the housing crisis may be found in an alliance between people who are homeless and newly-arrived refugees:
http://thevolcano.org/2016/02/04/solutions-to-the-housing-crisis-may-be-found-in-alliance-between-homeless-and-refugees/
- OCAP: Why poor and homeless people should welcome refugees: http://www.ocap.ca/node/4001
Star editorial: Ombudsman should investigate workers’ complaints:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/01/31/investigate-workers-complaints-editorial.html
Activists holding a bake sale to raise money to fund Toronto’s poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/08/toronto-budget-falls-short-of-anti-poverty-pledge-activists-say.html
- Stapleton: How the City of Toronto took a welfare upload saving of $25 million and only spent $6 million on poverty reduction: http://openpolicyontario.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Honey-I-shrunk-the-Poverty-Strategy.pdf
- Mayor Tory “proud” of compromise inflationary budget: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/02/09/mayor-john-tory-stakes-property-tax-hike-position.html
Chrystia Freeland signs Trans-Pacific Partnership deal:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freeland-tpp-auckland-signing-1.3431631
New OECD study says Canada’s inequality problem is even worse than previously thought:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/oecd_study_the_gap_between_canada_rich_and_poor_is_significantly_bigger_than_previously_thought
Canada lost 5,700 jobs in January; unemployment rate up to 7.2%:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-jobs-economy-1.3435172?cid
Ontario
Ontario’s reaction to release of federal transfer entitlements, including $5.1 billion for Canada Social Transfer:
https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2015/12/ontarios-reaction-to-the-federal-governments-release-of-transfer-entitlements-for-2016-17.html
Cohn: Liberals must restore trust on new pension plan:
http://www.ourwindsor.ca/opinion-story/6267073-liberals-must-restore-trust-on-new-pension-plan-cohn/
Cohn: Time to slay the myth of job-killing pension plans:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/02/09/time-to-slay-the-myth-of-job-killing-pension-plans-cohn.html
Hamilton taxpayers footing $820,000 bill for new social assistance software:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-taxpayers-footing-820k-for-new-social-assistance-software-1.3439344
Solitary Confinement: Two case studies and the social assistance income / employment conundrum:
http://metcalffoundation.com/stories/metcalf-stories/solitary-confinement-series/
PFIB: Three recent articles show investment in poverty reduction in Ontario and Toronto is a charade:
http://putfoodinthebudget.nationbuilder.com/showus
Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things
Information about class action lawsuit for people who lived at Schedule 1 facilities or institutions in Ontario:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/information-about-class-action-lawsuit-people-who-lived-schedule-1-facilities-or-institutions-o
Falvo: Homelessness in Canada: Its growth, policy responses, and advocacy:
http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2016/02/04/homelessness-in-canada-its-growth-policy-responses-and-advocacy/
Upcoming Spanish-language workshops on sponsorship applications and ODSP / seniors benefits:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/february-10-23-social-assistance-and-immigration-workshops-spanish
Around the Province
Brant and Brantford should “knock heads” over flawed implementation of OW/ODSP computer system:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2016/02/03/dismay-over-payment-system-woes
Location and integration of safe injection site in Thunder Bay will be key:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/location-and-integration-of-thunder-bay-safe-injection-site-will-be-key-1.3436597
Advocates looking at provincial subsidies for inter-community bus service in the north:
http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/02/05/working-group-advocates-provincial-subsidies-for-inter-community-bus-service
First Nations find culturally sensitive support at Peel courthouse:
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/6267155-first-nations-find-culturally-sensitive-support-at-peel-courthouse/
Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network raising awareness of Registered Disability Savings Plans:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2016/02/05/raising-awareness-of-registered-disability-savings-plan
Mississauga reviewing policies on secondary housing units:
http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6265440-city-reviewing-its-policies-on-second-units/
Orillia’s Coldest Night of the Year participants raising funds for homeless shelter:
http://www.orilliapacket.com/2016/02/08/team-taking-part-in-coldest-night-of-the-year-has-some-first-hand-experience-with-homelessness
Wallaceburg landlord says low-income tenants seeing skyrocketing electricity rates:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2016/02/08/landlord-says-everyone-will-feel-impact-of-high-power-bills
Niagara advocates say basic income could be a “game changer” in the fight against poverty:
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/6268351-basic-guaranteed-income-could-be-game-changer-in-fight-against-poverty/
Rachel Gray: Toronto needs a new approach to funding poverty reduction:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/rachel-gray/poverty-toronto_b_9144136.html
Ryerson students launch project to give people how are homeless a voice:
http://theeyeopener.com/2016/02/rta-students-document-poverty-in-toronto/
Goodwill Toronto files for bankruptcy and loses Goodwill name:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/08/goodwill-toronto-files-for-bankruptcy-loses-goodwill-name.html
- Goodwill has $800,000 in assets but owes $6 million to creditors: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/09/goodwill-toronto-owes-6-million-documents-show.html
- CEO wants to stay and fix the problems: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/nakamura-goodwill-1.3439299
Toronto-area taxi drivers prepare to strike next weekend over Mayor Tory’s support for Uber:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/02/08/toronto-area-taxi-drivers-prepare-to-strike-next-weekend.html
Across the Country
Alberta posts worst unemployment rate in a decade:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/alberta-posts-worst-unemployment-rate-in-decade-1.2766129
- Albertans “strategically defaulting” on their mortgages: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/jingle-mail-alberta-housing-1.3430867
- Premier Notley pushes Trudeau for changes to EI: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/notley-pushes-trudeau-for-ei-changes-1.2762676
- Globe Editorial: How much help should Ottawa really give to Alberta?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/how-much-help-should-ottawa-really-give-to-alberta/article28597714/
- 370 laid off people in Calgary attend employment workshop: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/unemployed-workers-attend-calgary-workshop-1.3432768
- Trudeau’s commitments to Alberta get lukewarm reception from some oilpatch workers: http://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/trudeaus-promises-get-lukewarm-reception-with-some-alberta-oilpatch-workers
- Alberta Federation of Labour calls on federal government to broaden eligibility for EI: http://www.satprnews.com/2016/02/03/afl-calls-on-pm-to-fix-the-gaps-in-albertas-ei-system/
Alberta promising big push on affordable housing construction and upkeep:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/province-moves-ahead-on-affordable-housing
Exploited tree planters win EI and income tax appeals, race discrimination case, and unpaid wage claims:
http://www.cknw.com/2016/02/03/exploited-treeplanters-win-long-legal-fight-for-employment-insurance/
Pizza Treat for the Street helping to feed people who are homeless in Winnipeg:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pizza-treats-street-crystal-anderson-1.3437883
National
EI wait time may stay at 2 weeks until 2017:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mihychuk-power-politics-employment-insurance-wait-times-2017-1.3425382
Digital divide: CRTC mulling internet subsidies for poor Canadians at telecommunications hearings:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/internet-access-digital-divide-1.3433848
Goar: Youth unemployment finally on the radar at home and abroad:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/08/youth-unemployment-finally-on-the-radar-screen-goar.html
Racism and legal inequality key issues in murdered and missing Indigenous women inquiry:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/racism-legal-inequality-key-issues-in-murdered-and-missing-inquiry-victims-families-say/article28636955/
EI whistleblower seeking justice three years later:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/01/31/employment-insurance-whistleblower-still-seeking-justice-three-years-later.html
International
Global economy not getting better, despite leaders and experts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/global-economy-solutions-1.3435453
How being poor can make you eat more: Children raised in poverty are more likely to overeat as adults:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3431704/How-poor-makes-eat-Children-raised-poverty-likely-overeat-overweight-adults.html
Report shows growing up poor promotes “eating in the absence of hunger” in adulthood:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/afps-epd020316.php
Gallup report shows link between full-time work and poverty in the US:
https://www.aei.org/publication/for-poverty-work-is-more-important-than-wages-but-only-half-of-american-adults-work-full-time/
Why poverty and inequality are bad for business:
http://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/column-why-poverty-and-inequality-are-bad-for-business/article_923fe870-cec9-11e5-8cc3-8b9df9c948f4.html
UK facing a crisis of homelessness among young people:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/09/homelessness-crisis-young-people-housing-benefit-professor-green?CMP=share_btn_fb
Economic growth in the EU doesn’t go hand-in-hand with poverty reduction:
http://neurope.eu/article/eu-economic-growth-doesnt-go-hand-in-hand-with-poverty-reduction/