Top Stories
Significant expansion of Legal Aid services means more access to justice for low income Ontarians:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/06/08/legal-aid-announces-significant-expansion.html
- The Spec says the moves are welcome but just a first step: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5667121-the-spectator-s-view-legal-aid-changes-overdue-and-welcome/
Fiorito: Ontario Works? I’m not so sure:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/11/ontario-works-im-not-so-sure-fiorito.html
- Saskatchewan Star Phoenix: Social assistance policy swings leave many in need:http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/Cooper+Social+assistance+policy+swings+leave+needs/11117917/story.html
Globe editorial: Medicare should cover prescription drugs:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/09/medicare-should-cover-prescription-drugs-editorial.html
- Another Globe editorial: Medicare’s mental illness coverage gap should be closed:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/medicare-has-a-mental-illness-gap-its-time-to-close-it/article24733043/?intcmp=pdxl_s2s
Canada’s Medical Officers of Health call on governments to replace social assistance with Guaranteed Annual Income:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2015/06/09/the-call-is-out-for-a-basic-income-guarantee-medical-officers-agree-on-the-idea-of-a-basic-income-rate-for-ontarians
- Alberta mayors are backing a Guaranteed Annual Income:http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/06/05/alberta-mayors-stick-back-guaranteed-minimum-income.html
- Old idea gets new life in Alberta: http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/old-anti-poverty-idea-guaranteed-minimum-income-getting-new-life-in-alberta
- Opinion: Alberta should introduce a Guaranteed Annual Income: http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/kelly-mcparland-alberta-should-introduce-a-guaranteed-minimum-income-if-it-fails-theres-always-oil
- Andrew Coyne agrees, but says annual income should be guaranteed instead of minimum wage:http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/andrew-coyne-guarantee-a-minimum-income-not-a-minimum-wage
- Peterborough Health Unit hosting public meeting on Guaranteed Annual Income:http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/5673741-could-a-guaranteed-basic-income-solve-our-poverty-problems-/
- Kingston group supports a Guaranteed Annual Income as food banks don’t solve hunger:http://www.thewhig.com/2015/06/11/basic-income-guarantee-would-lessen-poverty
Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff
Report shows Ontario teachers need more training on aboriginal issues:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/ontario-teachers-need-more-training-on-aboriginal-issues-report-1.3105687?cmp=rss
Latest Social Architecture report: Child Benefits in Canada: Politics Versus Policy:
http://social-architecture.ca/child-benefits-in-canada/
Applying behavioural science to the context of scarcity:
http://www.ideas42.org/publication/view/poverty-interrupted-applying-behavioral-science-to-the-context-of-scarcity/
Ontario
Dennis Raphael Op-Ed: Ontario’s second poverty reduction strategy is lacking:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/06/08/sudbury-column-new-anti-poverty-strategy-lacking
- Minister Matthews responds: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/06/11/province-helping-people-out-of-poverty-minister
Ontario to crack down on accessibility enforcement:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/03/ontario-to-crack-down-on-accessibility-violators.html
- Responding to the Mayo Moran report on the AODA: http://news.ontario.ca/medt/en/2015/06/ontario-responds-to-recommendations-from-mayo-morans-review-of-the-accessibility-for-ontarians-with.html
- Creating an accessibility certification program: http://news.ontario.ca/medt/en/2015/05/ontario-moving-forward-with-accessibility-certification-program.html
- Op-Ed: Ontario is failing in its accessibility goals:http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/06/11/ontario-is-failing-on-accessibility-goals.html
Around the Province
“Doctors Within Borders” set up health clinic in Scarborough for the undocumented and uninsured:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/06/11/clinic-launched-where-care-matters-more-than-a-health-card.html
Concern over Windsor rental units being converted to condos:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/condo-conversions-causing-concerns-1.3106873
Remembering June Callwood: Keeping the promise to end child poverty:
http://www.shalomlife.com/news/29307/keeping-the-promise-to-end-child-poverty-in-canada/
Hamilton councillor wants a bad landlord registry:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5666871-councillor-wants-registry-to-reel-in-rogue-evictions-by-landlords/
Unique program in Sault Ste. Marie connects people on social assistance with jobs:
http://www.saultthisweek.com/2015/06/08/plan-unique-to-sault-puts-people-to-work
Child poverty rates growing in Arnprior:
http://www.insideottawavalley.com/news-story/5669028-child-poverty-rates-growing-in-arnprior/
High rental rates make living tough in Barrie:
http://barrie.ctvnews.ca/high-rental-rates-making-it-difficult-to-live-in-barrie-1.2416589
Across the Country
Quebec changes to social assistance rules could hurt those with developmental disabilities:
http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/letters/letter-welfare-changes-hurt-intellectually-challenged
First Nations children in child welfare system is a systemic problem, in Nova Scotia and elsewhere:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/first-nation-children-in-child-welfare-system-a-systemic-problem-1.3104366?cmp=rss
National
Seven things to know about the Canada Pension Plan debate:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/retirement-rrsps/seven-things-to-know-for-the-canada-pension-plan-debate/article24813433/
- Poll results: The majority of Canadians see the need for CPP expansion:http://poll.forumresearch.com/post/296/one-half-sees-government-plan-as-an-election-ploy
Pensioner denied benefits on $54K in contributions because he’s too old:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/pension-contributions-of-54k-denied-worker-77-because-he-s-too-old-1.3100767?cmp=rss
Man denied CPP-D benefits dies of cancer:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5671218-man-denied-disability-payments-dies-of-cancer/
What it’s like to be part of the working poor:
http://www.universityaffairs.ca/opinion/in-my-opinion/a-contemplation-on-what-its-like-to-be-part-of-the-working-poor/
Student poverty and campus food banks on the rise:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1553343/student-poverty-campus-food-bank-use-on-the-rise
International
Thousands gather in Munich before the G7 to urge world leaders to take action against poverty:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jun/06/g7-thousands-gather-munich-for-action-against-poverty
Australia’s government says wealthy corporations should be relieved of tax reporting transparency because of kidnap risk:
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jun/05/coalition-says-kidnap-risk-means-wealthy-need-tax-reporting-exemptions?CMP=soc_567
UK singer says she’d pay 70% tax to keep public services:
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/04/charlotte-church-pay-70-percent-tax-to-protect-public-services?CMP=fb_gu
An evidence-based approach to poverty: Just give people money:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/04/givedirectly-cash-transfers_n_7339040.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000076
What poverty does to a young and growing brain:
http://www.citylab.com/work/2015/06/how-poverty-alters-the-young-brain/395390/
A new Ecuadorian migrant law would see no human being considered illegal:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/No-Human-Considered-Illegal-Under-New-Ecuadorean-Migrant-Law-20150607-0020.html
Unicef report: One in five children in France now lives in poverty:
http://europe.newsweek.com/one-five-children-france-live-poverty-new-report-328478
Why inequality, not lack of opportunity, matters:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/06/what-matters-inequality-or-opportuniy/393272/?utm_source=SFFB