Top Stories
It’s nearly tax time – an important time to let people with low incomes know how they can benefit from filing their taxes. Use and/or pass along this calculator about tax-delivered credits and benefits:
https://www.ontario.ca/taxes-and-benefits/ontario-tax-credits-and-benefits
- Chartered Accountants’ free tax preparation services for people with low incomes:http://www.cpaontario.ca/Public/apps/TAxClinics/taxClinics.aspx
BC makes big social assistance policy change for single parents: eligibility continues with 12 months free tuition and childcare while training for a “high demand” job, extended medical for first year of work, and increased earned income exemption:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Free+tuition+child+care+single+parents+welfare/10880844/story.html
- More coverage: http://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/295989651.html
- Critique of the earned income exemption change: http://www.thetyee.ca/News/2015/03/12/BC-Family-Welfare/
A call to halt the forced mass exodus of Canada’s migrant farm workers on April 1:
http://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion-story/5462699-halt-mass-exodus-of-canada-s-migrant-workers/
The looming federal election appears to be having an impact on the CPP-Disability backlog:
http://metronews.ca/news/canada/1303565/cpp-disability-cheques-finally-arriving/
Campaign 2000 urges feds to put new national poverty pledge into action:
http://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/5470553-ottawa-urged-to-put-child-poverty-pledge-into-action/
Pushing for a basic income guarantee – with numbers and a plan:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/03/08/national-income-floor-for-troubled-times-goar.html
Reports, Publications, Events
Fiscal Capacity: CCPA-Ontario’s Kaylie Tiessen shows “How to fix Ontario’s revenue problem”:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/fixing-ontarios-revenue-problem
Broadbent Institute’s Press Progress Summit: March 26-27, Ottawa:
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/en/summit2015/
IMF study shows the rise of income inequality linked to the decline of unionization:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/en/post/rise-income-inequality-linked-decline-unions-new-imf-study
Ontario
From International Women’s Day: Women’s roller coaster ride in Ontario’s labour market:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/behind-numbers/2015/03/womens-roller-coaster-ride-ontarios-labour-market
Another computer glitch leads to privacy violation of social assistance recipients:
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/03/02/welfare-computer-glitch-violates-privacy-of-recipients
Ombudsman blasts Hydro One for threatening to leave customers out in the cold:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/03/11/hydro-one-blasted-for-threatening-to-cut-off-customers-power-in-winter.html
Class action lawsuit launched on behalf of Crown Wards:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/class-action-suit-launched-on-behalf-of-crown-wards-1.2507073
Around the Province
Chatham-Kent report details problems with the province’s new social assistance computer system:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2015/03/09/social-assistance-management-system-causes-issues
Legal clinic helps people in Toronto who are homeless fight unpayable nuisance tickets:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/03/09/toronto-legal-clinic-helps-homeless-fight-unpayable-nuisance-tickets.html
Hamilton’s lack of childcare is an economic drain:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-s-lack-of-childcare-is-costing-taxpayers-advocate-1.2987828
Here’s the latest on legal clinic “transformation” in the GTA:
http://torontoist.com/2015/03/legal-aid-clinics-dodge-closures/
London leaders take part in “poverty simulation”:
http://www.am980.ca/2015/03/06/community-leaders-to-participate-in-initiative-aiming-to-reduce-poverty/
Radio homelessness marathon talks poverty in Waterloo Region:
http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/awl/2015/03/its-matter-social-justice-alliance-against-poverty-waterloo-region
Port Hope dental clinic for people on low incomes shows need for systemic expansion of dental services:
http://www.northumberlandnews.com/news-story/5459505-getting-to-the-root-of-dental-care-at-port-hope-clinic/
Across the Country
Newfoundland and Labrador Poverty Summit covers common ground:
http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=53290&latest=1
Women hit hardest by Alberta government’s austerity measures:
http://medicinehatnews.com/commentary/opinions/2015/03/10/women-likely-to-feel-biggest-budget-pinch/
National
CIBC study shows employment quality in Canada is at an all time low:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/employment-quality-in-canada-at-all-time-low-cibc-1.2265484
Unifor thinks the federal government has shelved its controversial targeted benefit pension proposal:
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/retirement/2015/03/11/has-ottawa-shelved-its-target-pension-plan.html
Is the Bank of Canada quietly moving to the left?:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/03/03/is-the-bank-of-canada-quietly-moving-to-the-left.html
Walkom: How to save Canadian capitalism from itself:
http://www.insidebrockville.com/opinion-story/5453136-how-to-save-canadian-capitalism-from-itself-walkom/
University contract faculty frustrated by low wages and no job security:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/andrew-robinson-carleton-university-instructor-rips-wages-job-security-1.2977700
International
Seattle lowers transit fares for low income riders:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/low-income-transit-plans-aim-to-put-the-brakes-on-214225391.html
Half of people in Ohio are one paycheque away from poverty:
http://www.marionstar.com/story/news/local/2015/03/11/report-half-ohioans-one-paycheck-away-poverty/70170336/
Australia warned against importing New Zealand’s new welfare model:
http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2015/03/think-carefully-importing-kiwi-welfare-model#
UK churches call government welfare sanctions “inhumane and unchristian”:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/02/churches-call-government-welfare-sanctions-inhumane-and-un-christian
Families with children and people with disabilities hardest hit by UK welfare reforms:
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/holyrood/505639/families-and-disables-hardest-hit-by-welfare-reform/
One in four Europeans at risk of poverty:
http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/poverty-trend-extremely-worrying-31051890.html
Study shows government programs could reduce poverty in NYC by 69%:
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2015/03/09/government-programs-could-reduce-poverty-in-nyc-by-up-to-69-study/
Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and other celebs sign “poverty is sexist” in advance of key UN summit:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/mar/07/povert-sexist-letter-women-equality-gaga-sandberg-beyonce