Top Stories
Income Security Reform – Sign the Petition: Make Ontario a world leader in social assistance and income security:
https://www.change.org/p/kathleen-wynne-make-ontario-a-world-leader-in-social-assistance-and-income-security
Affordable Housing – Sign the petition: Tell the Ontario government to make planning regulations that will create affordable housing:
https://www.acto.ca/campaign/inclusionaryzoning/#
Ontario’s affordable housing plan “achieves the exact opposite,” say City of Toronto councillors:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/01/16/provinces-affordable-housing-plan-achieves-the-exact-opposite-councillors-say.html
- Lorinc: Wynne’s Liberals gut their own affordable housing policy: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2018/01/17/lorinc-wynnes-liberals-gut-affordable-housing-policy/
Most Ontarians back minimum wage hike, say it will benefit the economy:
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/most-ontarians-back-minimum-wage-hike-say-it-will-benefit-the-economy
- Tim Hortons minimum wage rallies planned across Ontario and the GTA: https://www.insauga.com/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-rallies-planned-across-ontario-and-in-the-gta
- Tim Hortons minimum wage actions spark another round of protests: https://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=1304276
- Tim Hortons franchise owners tell workers to blame Wynne for benefit cuts and to “not vote Liberal”: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-hike-ontario-government-1.4493436
- Tim Hortons’ response undermines health: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/01/19/tim-hortons-response-undermines-health.html
- Tim Hortons clawbacks raise the question: Who’s the boss?: https://www.thestar.com/news/analysis/2018/01/14/tim-hortons-clawbacks-beg-the-question-whos-the-boss.html
- Sunset Grill says tip clawback after minimum wage hike bridges “unfair” pay gap: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/sunset-grill-tip-clawback-ontario-minimum-wage-1.4488144
- “It’s the right thing to do”: JJ Bean gives Ontario minimum wage to Vancouver staff: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/jj-bean-coffee-wage-increase-hike-1.4486070
- Asian supermarket giant reverses decision to cut paid breaks: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/01/18/asian-supermarket-giant-reverses-decision-to-cut-paid-breaks.html
- Wynne criticizes Tim Hortons franchisee, says workers shouldn’t be pawns: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wynne-criticizes-tim-hortons-franchisee-says-workers-shouldnt-be-pawns/article37666259/
- Employee rights hotline open for Sudbury workers: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-employee-rights-hotline-1.4488122
- Hands off our tips! http://rankandfile.ca/2018/01/17/hands-off-our-tips/
- Auto workers say Ontario’s new sick leave laws are unfair to them, hold protest at Peterborough MPPs office: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2018/01/18/auto-workers-say-ontarios-new-sick-leave-laws-are-unfair-to-them-hold-protest-at-peterborough-mpps-office
- Planning for Progress: Minimum wage increase is a correction long overdue: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2018/01/17/planning-for-progress-minimum-wage-increase-is-a-correction-long-overdue/#.Wl-hoBdwyWk.facebook
- Ontario Chamber of Commerce calls for further offset measures to keep Ontario competitive: http://kawarthachamber.ca/offset-measures-needed-upcoming-budget-keep-ontario-competitive/
- New “equal pay for equal work” provisions in Ontario limit ability to vary employees’ pay based on employment status: https://www.bennettjones.com/en/Blogs-Section/New-Equal-Pay-for-Equal-Work-Provisions-in-Ontario
- Ontario homes for disabled “in real trouble” because of minimum wage hike: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-managing/ontario-homes-for-disabled-in-real-trouble-because-of-minimum-wage-hike/article37655699/
- Ontario daycare fees jump even higher on minimum wage hike: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/01/16/daycare-fees_a_23334694/
- Ontario may provide public sectors with more minimum wage help: Wynne: https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-may-provide-public-sectors-with-more-minimum-wage-help-wynne-1.3763917
- Minister acknowledges “challenges” to families as daycares raise costs due to minimum wage hike: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/daycare-costs-minimum-wage-hike-1.4488693
- Opinion: Minimum wage increase really a tax grab: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/opinion-minimum-wage-increase-really-a-tax-grab-813924
- Stoufville businesses feeling the squeeze from minimum wage increase: https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/8075739-stouffville-businesses-feeling-the-squeeze-from-minimum-wage-increase/
- Richmond Hill businesses feeling effects of minimum wage hike: https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/8074310-richmond-hill-businesses-feeling-effects-of-minimum-wage-hike/
- North Bay Chamber feels pinch of minimum wage increase: https://www.mynorthbaynow.com/26510/north-bay-chamber-feels-pinch-minimum-wage-increase/
- Timmins business owners: “It’s really killing us”: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2018/01/16/its-really-killing-us–minimum-wage-hike
- Full financial impact of higher minimum wage still months away, businesses say: https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8050510-full-financial-impact-of-higher-minimum-wage-still-months-away-businesses-say/
- How minimum wage workers are spending their pay increase: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/how-ontario-minimum-wage-workers-are-spending-their-payincrease/article37664009/
- In minimum wage debate, gender wage gap is being forgotten: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/01/14/in-minimum-wage-debate-gender-wage-gap-is-being-forgotten.html
- The five big claims against boosting minimum wage, debunked: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/01/15/analysis/five-big-claims-against-boosting-minimum-wage-debunked
- Evidence suggests minimum wage hikes don’t kill jobs: http://m.thechronicleherald.ca/letters/1536449-reader%E2%80%99s-corner-evidence-suggests-minimum-wage-hikes-don%E2%80%99t-kill-jobs
- Economically and morally, the minimum wage hike makes perfect sense: https://ipolitics.ca/2018/01/12/economically-morally-minimum-wage-hike-makes-perfect-sense/
- Ontario hiring more officers to crack down on firms violating new labour laws, upping fines: https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/ontario-hiring-officers-crack-firms-violating-new-labour-laws-upping-fines-206765/
- Ontario Tories deny charge they’ll rescind $14 wage: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8050115-ontario-tories-deny-charge-they-ll-rescind-14-wage/
- How the minimum wage hike is playing out politically: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-ontario-election-1.4485045
- The unfinished business of labour law reform in Ontario: A strategy for implementing sectoral bargaining: https://canadafactcheck.ca/bill148ontariolabourlawsectoralbargaining/
The inexcusable treatment of Sears employees: A cautionary tale:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-inexcusable-treatment-of-sears-employees-a-cautionary-tale/article37661479/
- Sears Canada paid hundreds of millions in dividends as pension fund suffered: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/01/17/sears-canada-paid-hundreds-of-millions-in-dividends-as-pension-fund-suffered_a_23336045/
- $611 million in Sears Canada dividend payments under review by court monitor: https://www.thewesternstar.com/news/611-million-in-sears-canada-dividend-payments-under-review-by-court-monitor-178069/
- Sears Canada’s legacy: Private profits and socialized losses: http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/jen-gerson-sears-canadas-legacy-private-profits-and-socialized-losses
- Sears closes final stores: https://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-law/industrial-relations/sears-canada-closes-final-stores-236250.aspx
Quebec raising minimum wage to $12 an hour as of May 1:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/quebec-raising-minimum-wage-to-12-as-of-may-1/article37652041/
- Employers worried new minimum wage will hit their businesses hard: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/employers-worried-new-12-minimum-wage-will-hit-their-businesses-hard-1.4492355
- Montreal performers join Fight for $15 minimum wage benefit: http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-performers-join-fight-for-15-minimum-wage-benefit
- 60% of those who will benefit from higher minimum wage will be women, Quebec says: http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebecs-minimum-wage-will-rise-to-12-on-may-1
Ottawa tightens rules on housing foreign farm workers:
https://www.country-guide.ca/daily/ottawa-tightens-rules-on-housing-foreign-farm-workers
- The cruel trade-off at your local produce aisle: http://theconversation.com/the-cruel-trade-off-at-your-local-produce-aisle-90083
Many Canadian cities avoid Toronto’s homeless shelter crisis by focusing on housing: Advocate:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/other-canadian-cities-avoid-torontos-homeless-shelter-crisis-by-focusing-on-housing-advocate/article37598769/
- “It’s safer out here”: People who are homeless in Toronto brave the cold rather than stay in dangerous shelters: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/appview/news/toronto/torontos-homeless-brave-the-cold-rather-than-stay-in-dangerousshelters/article37601534/
- Death from freezing on the rise in Winnipeg: http://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/death-from-freezing-on-the-rise-in-the-city
Discriminating against the poor is legal. That must change:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/elizabeth-mcisaac/discriminating-against-the-poor-is-legal-that-must-change_a_23330852/
Supreme Court case could lead to First Nations role in law-making:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/supreme-court-case-could-lead-to-first-nations-role-in-law-making-1.3758863
Ontario
Star editorial: A hopeful moment in the fight against mental illness:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/01/14/a-hopeful-moment-in-the-fight-against-mental-illness.html
Ontario Human Rights Commission obtains Tribunal Consent Order to keep people with mental health disabilities out of segregation:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-obtains-tribunal-consent-order-keep-people-mental-health-disabilities-out-segregation
- Ontario to stop placing inmates with mental health disabilities in solitary confinement: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/01/18/ontario-to-stop-placing-inmates-with-mental-health-disabilities-in-solitary-confinement.html
Black Legal Action Centre to engage with community to discover what is needed most in legal clinic:
https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/5671/black-legal-action-centre-to-engage-with-community-to-discover-what-is-needed-most-in-legal-clinic
Over 4400 types of drugs now covered for people under 25:
https://excal.on.ca/over-4400-types-of-drugs-now-covered-for-people-under-25/
- Pharmacare and minimum wage help Wynne’s Liberals: Poll: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/01/12/poll-suggests-pharmacare-and-minimum-wage-help-wynnes-liberals.html
Government release: Women promoted to Cabinet in key government roles:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/01/women-promoted-to-cabinet-in-key-government-roles.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
January 19: National Day of Action: Stand with Tim Hortons Workers:
http://www.15andfairness.org/national_day_of_action_tim_hortons
Stats Can Blog: 2017: The year in statistics:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171222/dq171222h-eng.htm
Stats Can: Employment Insurance, November 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180118/dq180118a-eng.htm
Around the Province
Survey to focus on oral health in Windsor-Essex:
https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/survey-to-focus-on-oral-health-in-windsor-essex-1.3761790
Renting to a “different demographic” in Hamilton:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8074401-renting-to-a-different-demographic-in-hamilton/
Boost social services to prevent shootings, says crime expert in the wake of six Ottawa shootings:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/shootings-two-weeks-2018-1.4487082
Toronto’s rental market now the most expensive in Canada:
https://www.blogto.com/city/2018/01/toronto-most-expensive-city-apartment-rent-canada/
- Toronto renters pushed to the 905 as vacancies hit 16-year low: Report: https://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2018/01/12/renters-pushed-to-the-905-as-vacancies-hit-16-year-low-report.html
- New year, same old expensive rent in Toronto. Weren’t we fixing this?: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/rent-expensive-toronto-2018-1.4491949
- Toronto rental rates now exceed Vancouver’s, as housing shortage persists: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/01/16/toronto-rental-rates-now-exceed-vancouvers-as-housing-shortage-persists_a_23335078/
East Toronto residents outline priorities for 2018 budget at meeting:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/community-story/8076437-east-toronto-residents-outline-priorities-for-2018-budget-at-meeting/
Toronto Transit Commission posts $73 million budget surplus due to drop in Wheel-Trans demand, clampdown on benefits fraud:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ttc-surplus-thanks-to-fewer-wheeltrans-rides-and-benefits-fraud-investigation-1.4485791
TDSB to consider extended-day programs for kids 4 to 12 starting this fall:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/01/16/tsbd-to-consider-extended-day-programs-for-kids-4-to-12-starting-this-fall.html
Winter in Ontario: Homelessness doesn’t end in April:
https://www.globalresearch.ca/winter-in-ontario-homelessness-doesnt-end-in-april/5626073
Across the Country
BC government release: Getting to work on BC’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017SDPR0064-001828
- Ways to participate: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcpovertyreduction/
- BC Poverty Reduction Coalition: Now’s Our Chance – a full list of consultation dates, and resources on providing feedback: http://bcpovertyreduction.ca/take-action/povertyreductionconsultation/
- BC Raise the Rates Coalition: Take Action: https://raisetherates.org/take-action/
- Brainstorming ideas in the Comox Valley: https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/brainstorming-ideas-for-poverty-reduction-strategy/
- Poverty minister visits Terrace: http://www.cftktv.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=2190188
- Bulkley Valley residents talk poverty reduction: https://www.interior-news.com/news/bulkley-residents-talk-poverty-reduction/
- BC Poverty Reduction Strategy meetings arrive in the North: https://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/65579/bc-poverty-reduction-strategy-meetings-arrive-north/
- Province seeks public opinion on poverty: https://www.terracestandard.com/trending-now/province-seeks-public-opinion-on-poverty/
Can more housing supply resolve the affordability crisis in Vancouver?:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/can-more-housing-supply-resolve-the-affordability-crisis-in-vancouver/article37601341/
It’s “really problematic” to blame foreigners for Vancouver’s housing crisis, says UBC sociologist:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/foreign-buyer-ban-not-the-solution-says-ubc-sociologist-1.4489031
Iqaluit high school fights food insecurity with free hot lunch program:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuksuk-high-school-lunch-program-1.4480160?cmp=rss
Number of EI beneficiaries in Saskatchewan rises in November:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3972943/employment-insurance-beneficiaries-saskatchewan-november/
Unemployed Sask resident upset with province’s cuts to job-training programs:
http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/unemployed-sask-resident-upset-with-provinces-cuts-to-job-training-programs
Sask Party leadership candidates disuss homelessness:
http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/sask-party-candidates-discuss-homelessness
Alberta Burger King franchise keeps workers in the basement:
https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/216559/Workers-kept-in-basement
Edmonton EI claims jump in November, driving Alberta increase:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-edmonton-employment-insurance-statistics-canada-1.4492888
Manitoba addictions recovery centre would rely on fundraising, social assistance to offer treatment to some at no cost:
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/addictions-recovery-centre-would-rely-on-fundraising-social-assistance-to-offer-treatment-to-some-at-no-cost-1.3764444
Deal with poverty, affordability issues to improve health care for Manitobans:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mental-health-access-hospital-ndp-town-hall-1.4486615
New Brunswick to subsidize daycare for middle-class families:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/daycare-middle-income-families-1.4491446
Minimum wage protest organizer calls Nova Scotia a “low-wage ghetto”:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1537364-minimum-wage-protest-organizer-calls-n.s.-%E2%80%98low-wage-ghetto%E2%80%99
Program brightens oral health for mentally ill patients in Pictou County, NS:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1536662-program-brightens-oral-health-for-mentally-ill-patients
Crushing poverty: A How-to Guide for Nova Scotia:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1536257-opinion-crushing-poverty-%E2%80%94-a-how-to-guide
National
The CRA makes it so hard to get the disability tax credit, many don’t even try:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3956042/cra-disability-tax-credit-canada/
Trudeau government’s “pension-for-life” for injured veterans won’t start until 2019:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3926904/injured-veterans-pensions/
18 months an option for mat leave, but be prepared for lower weekly benefits:
https://www.thetelegram.com/business/18-months-an-option-for-mat-leave-but-be-prepared-for-lower-weekly-benefits-178393/
Why not all parents benefit from Canada’s parental-leave program:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/why-not-all-parents-benefit-from-canadas-parental-leave-program
Anti-poverty activists share dream but live totally different lives:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/26/anti-poverty-activists-share-dream-but-live-totally-different-lives.html
Opinion: Why Ontario’s first modern-day treaty is set up to fail:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/why-ontarios-first-modern-day-treaty-is-set-up-to-fail
What will Canada’s new accessibility law in 2018 look like?:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/29/what-will-canadas-new-accessibility-law-in-2018-look-like.html
Loblaws in $400 million tax fight with CRA over claims it set up bogus offshore bank:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loblaws-cra-glenhuron-bank-barbados-tax-1.4490564
These provinces led in economic growth. They also price carbon pollution:
https://www.hilltimes.com/2018/01/17/provinces-led-economic-growth-also-price-carbon-pollution/131297
Canada’s economy to “wane” says internal memo to finance minister:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gdp-morneau-canada-growth-labour-women-productivity-1.4483411
International
To get Medicaid in Kentucky, many will have to work. Advocates for the poor say they will sue:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/health/kentucky-medicaid-work.html
More US workers say their bosses are threatening to have them deported:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-immigration-retaliation-20180102-story.html
Wisconsin Governor pushes welfare overhaul to include work requirement for parents on food stamps:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/18/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-pushes-welfare-overhaul-and-work-rule-food-stamp-parents/1043864001/
US House Speaker urges bid to move people “from welfare to work” this year:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-18/ryan-urges-bid-to-move-people-from-welfare-to-work-this-year
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says welfare entitlement reform not in 2018 agenda:
https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-welfare-entitlement-reform-not-on-2018-agenda-1515110765-9a16d739-0de8-45bf-a83f-ada4d60415db.html
Scotland united in curiosity as councils trial universal basic income:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/25/scotland-universal-basic-income-councils-pilot-scheme
Experts say basic income could reach mainstream politics in 2018:
https://futurism.com/experts-basic-income-reach-mainstream-politics-2018/
Radical plan for a Universal Basic Income backed by UK right-wing think tank:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/radical-plan-universal-basic-income-11876785
Unions call denial of minimum wage to North Sea workers “national disgrace”:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/18/unions-call-denial-of-minimum-wage-to-north-sea-workers-national-disgrace
UK’s Centrelink gave companies accused of exploitation direct access to welfare payments:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/17/centrelink-allowed-companies-accused-exploitation-deduct-payments-welfare
Minister for loneliness appointed to continue late UK MP Joe Cox’s work:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42708507
Workers and bosses in Thailand joust over minimum wage increases:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1398122/workers-bosses-joust-over-minimum-wage-increases
Progress against hunger, poverty hinges on empowering Indigenous women: UN agriculture chief:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=58422#.WmI2qK6nFEY