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Media & Policy News: 18 August 2017

August 18, 2017

Ed. note: Apologies – IT problems prevented getting this out earlier. More catch up to come next week.

 

Top Stories

Pain and suffering compensation exemption levels raised for Ontario Works and ODSP recipients:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/exemption-levels-raised-for-ontario-works

  • Government release: Ontario helping social assistance recipients get ahead: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2017/08/ontario-helping-social-assistance-recipients-get-ahead.html

Province hiring hydro welfare team in North Bay:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/29/province-hiring-hydro-welfare-team-in-north-bay

How prejudice pushes low-income people onto an unhealthy diet:
https://theconversation.com/how-prejudice-pushes-low-income-people-onto-an-unhealthy-diet-81936?platform=hootsuite

Study links hunger in residential schools to Indigenous health problems today:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/15/study-links-hunger-in-residential-schools-to-indigenous-health-problems-today.html

  • Residential school survivor remembers hunger that never went away: http://aptnnews.ca/2017/08/16/residential-school-survivor-remembers-hunger-that-never-went-away/

CCPA report shows Ontario’s labour market is doing no favours for low-income families:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/14/labour-market-doing-no-favours-for-low-income-families-report.html

  • CBC: Poor Ontario families getting poorer: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/income-inequality-report-ccpa-1.4246874
  • Huffington Post: Minimum wage hike needed as half of Ontarians see wages shrink: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/08/15/minimum-wage-hike-needed-as-half-of-ontarians-see-wages-shrink_a_23078367/
  • Here’s the report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/losing-ground
  • Yes, Mr. Weston, you can afford a living wage: https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7500563-yes-mr-weston-you-can-afford-a-living-wage/#.WZGS2WN3K6l.facebook
  • Ontario minimum wage hike will cost Metro $50M next year, grocer says: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/minimum-wage-metro-1.4247721
  • Metro grocery chain looking at automation to offset higher Ontario minimum wage: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/08/15/metro-grocery-chain-looking-at-automation-to-offset-higher-ontario-minimum-wage.html
  • Business lobbyists release report damning $15 minimum wage, while critics raise eyebrows: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bill-148-analysis-critics-1.4246428
  • Business coalition sounds alarm over Ontario’s minimum-wage hike: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/08/14/business-coalition-sounds-alarm-over-ontarios-minimum-wage-hike.html
  • Star editorial: The economic case for a higher minimum wage: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/07/29/the-economic-case-for-a-higher-minimum-wage-editorial.html
  • The hypocrisy of opposing a minimum wage hike: Coren: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/10/the-hypocrisy-of-opposing-a-minimum-wage-hike-coren.html
  • Minimum wage concerns haven’t born out historically: Research institute: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/17/minimum-wage-concerns-havent-borne-out-historically-research-institute-says.html

Parkdale rent strike over repairs, above-guideline increases ends with tenants declaring victory:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/12/parkdale-rent-strike-over-repairs-above-guideline-increases-ends-with-tenants-declaring-victory.html

  • Statement of the Rent Strikers’ Negotiating Committee: http://parkdaleorganize.ca/2017/08/03/parkdale-rent-strike-ends-in-victory/
  • Fighting bad landlords: Tenants network in Hamilton pushing renters to organize: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7500061-fighting-bad-landlords-tenants-network-pushing-renters-to-organize/
  • 5 lessons for tenants from the successful Parkdale rent strike: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/14/5-lessons-for-tenants-from-the-successful-parkdale-rent-strike.html

Canada’s record on racial discrimination under scrutiny at UN:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/canada-racial-discrimination-un-1.4244297

  • NGOs tell UN panel Canada is failing on ending racism: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/14/ngos-tell-un-panel-canada-is-failing-on-racism-paradkar.html

BC NDP follow through with promise, raise BC welfare, disability rates:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/ndp-follow-through-with-promise-to-raise-b-c-welfare-disability-rates

“Hey brother, could you spare a quarter?” A Hamilton panhandler fights the law:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hey-brother-could-you-spare-a-quarter-a-hamilton-panhandler-fights-the-law-1.4232155?cmp=rss

School fundraising report says amounts raised far outpace government grants for needy areas:
https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/queenspark/2017/08/14/school-fundraising-report-says-amounts-raised-far-outpace-that-of-grants-for-needy-areas.html

  • Here’s the report: http://www.etfo.ca/AboutETFO/MediaRoom/MediaReleases/Pages/ETFO%20issues%20seven%20recommendations%20to%20fix%20Ontarios%20Education%20Funding%20Formula.aspx

Torjman: Canada’s “welfare wall” traps people with disabilities:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sherri-torjman/canadas-welfare-wall-traps-people-with-disabilities_a_23049558/

New study suggests link between foster care system and youth homelessness:
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/08/09/new-study-suggests-link-between-foster-care-system-and-youth-homelessness/

Alberta action on First Nations child welfare funding shortfall could set national example:
http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/alberta-action-on-first-nations-child-welfare-funding-shortfall-could-be-setting-national-example/wcm/fac65fad-151a-4a61-b82c-0104bd4a1263

Baloney Meter: How deep does the Canada Child Benefit cut poverty rates?:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/baloney-meter-how-deep-does-the-canada-child-benefit-cut-child-poverty-rates/wcm/afa2fda9-1add-459c-95a8-f782cabe8e21

Canada’s economic growth blows past expectations:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/canada-s-economic-growth-blows-past-expectations-1.3522751

Toronto activist Bonnie Briggs worked tirelessly against homelessness:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7490713-toronto-activist-bonnie-briggs-worked-tirelessly-against-homelessness/

Nick Volk was a housing champion for people in need in Toronto:
https://www.catholicregister.org/item/25898-nick-volk-was-a-housing-champion-for-people-in-need

 

Ontario

Province’s child care affordability study to be led by U of T prof:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/20/provinces-child-care-affordability-study-to-be-led-by-u-of-t-prof.html

Some value in using tax system for basic income: Report:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/20/value-in-using-tax-system-for-basic-income-report

Star editorial: On accessibility, Ontario needs less secrecy, more action:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/08/06/on-accessibility-ontario-needs-less-secrecy-more-action-editorial.html

Ontarians pay highest rates in Canada for hydro, study shows:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-fraser-institute-study-1.4212668

Ontario Indigenous children agreement hailed as step towards self-governance:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/16/ontario-indigenous-education-agreement-hailed-as-step-towards-self-governance.html

  • Government release: Ontario and Anishinabek Nation sign historic education agreement:
    https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2017/08/ontario-and-anishinabek-nation-sign-historic-education-agreement.html

Ontario’s books still balanced despite increased spending, Sousa says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/08/11/ontarios-books-still-balanced-despite-increased-spending-sousa-says.html

  • Government release: Ontario releases 2017-2018 first quarter finances: https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2017/08/ontario-releases-2017-18-first-quarter-finances.html

Peter Milczyn becomes Minister of Housing and Poverty Reduction (and Basic Income), as Chris Ballard takes over Environment and Climate Change: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/07/chris-ballard-ontarios-new-minister-of-the-environment-and-climate-change.html

  • Environment Minister Glen Murray quits politics for “dream job” at Pembina Institute:
    http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/07/31/news/ontario-minister-glen-murray-quits-politics-dream-job

Government release: Ontario adds 25,500 jobs in July:
https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2017/08/ontario-adds-25500-jobs-in-july.html

Government release: Ontario helping skilled workers train for green jobs:
https://news.ontario.ca/maesd/en/2017/08/ontario-helping-skilled-workers-train-for-green-jobs.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

August 22: Basic Information Session – Thunder Bay:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/basic-income-information-session-thunder-bay-tickets-36522794662

August 23: Webinar – New OINP Permanent Residence program for farm workers and low-skilled construction positions:
http://www.lmlawgroup.com/news/2017/8/16/oinp-low-skilled-workers

August 24: Basic Income Information Session – Brantford:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/basic-income-information-session-brantford-tickets-36522825755

August 28: Basic Income Information Session – Hamilton:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/basic-income-information-session-hamilton-tickets-36522866878

Sept 21: A Rights-Based Approach to Poverty Elimination – Halton:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/a-rights-based-approach-to-poverty-elimination-tickets-36280608276

CLEO’s On the Radar: News about rent increases in Ontario:
http://mailchi.mp/cleo/on-the-radar-news-about-rent-increases-1028865?e=63ebc9e633

Stats Can Study: Low income among persons with a disability in Canada, 2014:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170811/dq170811a-eng.htm

Stats Can: Labour Force Survey, July 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170804/dq170804a-eng.htm

Stats Can: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, May 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170727/dq170727a-eng.htm

Stats Can: Consumer Price Index, July 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170818/dq170818a-eng.htm

Stats Can: Families, households and marital status: Key results from the 2016 Census:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170802/dq170802a-eng.htm

  • Canada has more same-sex couples, one person households: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/02/canada-has-more-same-sex-couples-one-person-households-census-shows.html
  • Canadians speaking more languages than ever before, Tagalog fastest-growing mother tongue: http://globalnews.ca/news/3641721/census-canada-languages/
  • Highlights of Stats Can’s latest 2016 Census release: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/census-family-language-highlights-1.4231841
  • Why more of us are living in multigenerational households: http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/why-more-of-us-are-living-in-multigenerational-households/wcm/140778d6-6ccc-41b2-a277-bba209523243

Caledon Institute: A Renewed Voice for Social Canada:
http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/1116ENG.pdf

Tamarack: How to develop a common agenda for a collective impact:
https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Resources/Publications/CommonAgendaforCollectiveImpact.pdf

Conference Proceedings: The New Economy and a Basic Income Guarantee, May 29, 2017:
http://www.ryerson.ca/clmr/publications/2017_05_29/

Government of Canada: Federal Income Support for Parents of Murdered or Missing Children grant:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/parents-murdered-missing-children.html

Homeless Hub newsletters:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/costs-managing-homelessness-too-high?e=6da7d6f883 http://mailchi.mp/edu/costs-managing-homelessness-too-high-2883309?e=6da7d6f883

City of Toronto Public Consultation on Vacant Homes Tax:
https://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=e40bee998c7cd510VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

 

Around the Province

Program for chronic homelessness gets boost from City of London:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-ontario-chronic-homeless-1.4246842

Sudbury votes to fund OW and ODSP discretionary benefits not covered by the province:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/13/city-votes-to-maintain-ow-odsp-benefits

Vale looking at layoffs in Sudbury:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/08/12/vale-looking-at-layoffs-in-sudbury

Thunder Bay legal clinic aims to help people who don’t officially exist:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/id-clinic-thunder-bay-1.4231239

Chalmers Community Services Centre finds downtown Guelph home:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/chalmers-centre-peter-gill-guelph-1.4249786

Harm reduction workers urge opening of safe spaces in Toronto:
http://www.cp24.com/news/harm-reduction-workers-urge-opening-of-safe-spaces-in-toronto-1.3542358

  • Toronto’s first safe injection site, a tent in Moss Park, unofficial – but welcome: http://nationalpost.com/news/toronto-opens-first-safe-injection-site/wcm/70c8adce-1626-44d3-a664-d2d8ba296ddc

Retirement home rents in Toronto soar, putting some seniors in limbo:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/06/retirement-home-rents-soar-putting-some-seniors-in-limbo.html

As Toronto rents near Brooklyn-level prices, tenants grow desperate:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/08/02/as-toronto-rents-near-brooklyn-level-prices-tenants-grow-desperate.html

 

Across the Country

“Stunning scene” as BC family with children sets up make-shift home in the bush due to lack of affordable housing:
http://globalnews.ca/video/3662269/stunning-scene-as-okanagan-family-with-children-sets-up-a-make-shift-home-in-the-bush-due-to-lack-of-affordable-housing

BC to raise minimum wage by 50 cents an hour and promise $15 an hour by 2021:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-to-raise-minimum-wage-by-50-cents-an-hour

  • Businesses prepared for minimum wage increase: BC Chamber of Commerce:
    https://energeticcity.ca/2017/08/businesses-prepared-for-minimum-wage-increase-bc-chamber-of-commerce/
  • Local business owners weigh in on BC minimum wage increase: http://www.eaglevalleynews.com/news/local-business-owners-weigh-in-on-minimum-wage-increase

Alberta is about to be Canada’s fastest growing economy again:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-28/alberta-tops-b-c-to-reclaim-lead-in-canadian-growth-survey

Ten things to know about social assistance in Alberta:
http://calgaryhomeless.com/info/research-blog/ten-things-know-social-assistance-alberta/

Homeless camps pop up in Calgary area; local residents use watchdog group to deal with “problems”:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2017/08/17/homeless-camps-pop-up-in-mckenzie-towne.html?cq_ck=1503010985988

CCPA Manitoba: A Family Living Wage for Manitoba: 2016-17 Update:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Manitoba%20Office/2017/06/CCPA-MB%20Living%20Wage%202017%20final.pdf

Mom of terminally ill Nova Scotia boy fights order to repay $31,000 in social assistance:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-community-services-overpayment-child-monaghan-1.4223979

The left is back – and that could change the face of Canadian politics for years to come:
http://www.straight.com/news/946831/left-back-and-could-change-face-canadian-politics-years-come

 

National

Refugee claimant released after being jailed “for no real reason at all,” judge says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/08/14/judge-orders-release-of-refugee-claimant-jailed-for-no-real-reason.html

Why social housing units in cities will be hard hit by climate change:
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/mba8b3/why-social-housing-units-in-cities-will-be-hard-hit-by-climate-change

“Tremendous injustice” as migrant workers sent back to Jamaica:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/farm-workers-jamaica-sent-home-1.4223814

Foreign farmworkers in Canada fear deportation if they complain:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/13/world/canada/canada-migrants-temporary-farmworkers-program.html

First Nation questions relationship with Canada following court ruling:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/11/first-nation-questions-relationship-with-canada-following.html

First Nations-owned company receives “up to $60 million” to connect Pikangikum to Ontario power grid:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/pikangikum-power-funding-1.4249804

MMIWG inquiry now reviewing conduct of police officers: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mmiwg-police-investigations-1.4224318

Improve aboriginal jury representation: Lawyers:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201708086337/headline-news/improve-aboriginal-jury-representation-lawyers

Todd: Canada struggling to “absorb” immigrants, internal report says:
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-canada-struggling-to-absorb-immigrants-internal-report-says

 

International

Hotel boom in SeaTac, Washington, unfettered by $15 minimum wage:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/hotel-boom-in-seatac-wash-unfettered-by-15-minimum-wage/article35855273/

Increasing minimum wage could decrease “child neglect”, study says:
https://indianapublicradio.org/news/2017/08/increasing-minimum-wage-could-decrease-child-neglect-study-says/

Minnesota minimum wage set to rise with inflation in 2018:
http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-minimum-wage-set-to-rise-with-inflation-in-2018/440945833/

Serious flaws found in study linking higher minimum wage to job losses:
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/flaws-found-study-minimum-wage-job-losses

US corporations pay between 13% and 19% in federal taxes – far less than the 35% statutory rate:
https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/08/10/corporations-pay-between-13-and-19-percent-federal-taxes-far-less-35-percent

These are the countries that pay the highest taxes in Europe:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/08/these-are-the-countries-that-pay-the-highest-taxes-in-europe

The two most popular critiques of basic income are both wrong:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/20/15821560/basic-income-critiques-cost-work-negative-income-tax

The growing gulf in life expectancy in the UK shows how austerity has deepened inequalities:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/12/growing-gulf-life-expectancy-shows-austerity-deepened-inequalities

Why Finland’s basic income experiment isn’t working:
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/07/20/opinion/finland-universal-basic-income.html

UK woman with dementia has disability benefits cut:
http://www.welfareweekly.com/dwp-tells-women-dementia-can-care-removes-benefits/

Thousands of UK workers to receive 2 million back pay after minimum wage investigation:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/thousands-workers-receive-2m-back-13487526

New Zealand advocacy group wants $20 minimum wage:
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/nz-first-wants-20-minimum-wage.html

Why is tax evasion in New Zealand treated more gently than benefit fraud?:
https://e-tangata.co.nz/news/why-is-tax-evasion-treated-more-gently-than-benefit-fraud

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This site contains general legal information for people in Ontario, Canada. It is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem. ISAC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization. ISAC is funded by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). The funding for this website is also provided by LAO. The views expressed in any of ISAC’s publications (including written, oral, or visual) are the views of the clinic and do not necessarily reflect those of LAO.