Ed. Note: Taking a holiday break – see you again on August 18!
Top Stories
Federal Ombudsman investigating if women and kids living in shelters are getting CCB and WITB:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ombudsman-investigating-if-vulnerable-women-kids-getting-tax-benefits-1.3502986
Finance Minister Morneau proposes tax changes to close loopholes for wealthy:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/morneau-tax-changes-wealthy-consultations-tuesday-1.4210201?cmp=rss
- Feds unveil plans to stop “unfair” business tax advantages reaped by individuals:
http://business.financialpost.com/business-pmn/feds-unveil-plans-to-target-unfair-tax-advantages-reaped-by-businesses/wcm/cbdc3a70-cea7-4a1b-954d-2d45350a5c03 - Reality check: Will closing tax loopholes for the rich really help the middle class?: http://globalnews.ca/news/3605914/reality-check-will-closing-tax-loopholes-for-the-rich-really-help-the-middle-class/
Renovation of Ontario housing co-ops put on hold due to federal government demands:
http://www.mortgagebrokernews.ca/news/bruised-credit/renovation-of-ontario-housing-coops-put-on-hold-due-to-government-demands-228218.aspx
Feds look to shore up OAS to prevent fraud, mistakes:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/news/feds-look-to-shore-up-oas-to-prevent-fraud-mistakes-101190
Extended EI benefits in hard-hit regions surpass budgeted expectations as program ends:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/extended-ei-benefits-surpass-budget-expectations-as-program-ends-1.3505221
Challenging the Wage Gap: Canadian women still earn less than men:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3558520/challenging-the-wage-gap-canadian-women-still-earn-less-than-men/
- Challenging the Wage Gap: How access to child care is related to the gender wage gap: http://globalnews.ca/news/3558557/challenging-the-wage-gap-how-access-to-childcare-is-related-to-the-gender-wage-gap/
Rise of income inequality in Canada “almost exclusive” to major cities: Study:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3599083/income-inequality-canada-cities/
Pace of Ontario’s minimum wage hike too fast: Sudbury businessman:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/16/pace-of-minimum-wage-hike-too-fast-cleaner
- Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce calls for changes to minimum wage bill:
http://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2017/07/17/chamber-calls-changes-minimum-wage-bill/ - Travelling legislators find fear and favour in Windsor for labour law changes: http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/travelling-legislators-find-fear-and-favour-in-windsor-for-labour-law-changes
- Minimum wage debate reaches Windsor: https://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/7424500-minimum-wage-debate-reaches-windsor/
- North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce has its say on the minimum wage: http://www.1019rock.ca/2017/07/19/north-bay-officer-conservation-officer-year/
- Province’s minimum wage consultations come to Waterloo region: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ontario-minimum-wage-increase-consultations-kitchener-waterloo-1.4210242
- Kitchener businesses voice concerns about proposed minimum wage increase: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/businesses-voice-concerns-about-proposed-minimum-wage-increase-1.3508697
- Committee hears from all sides in labour debate in Kitchener: https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/7449557-committee-hears-from-all-sides-in-labour-debate/
- Minimum wage bump “tip of the iceberg”, MPPs told at Kitchener hearings: https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7449778-minimum-wage-bump-tip-of-the-iceberg-mpps-told-at-regional-labour-law-hearings/
- Overhauls of labour laws drew opposition and support at London hearings: http://www.lfpress.com/2017/07/17/minimum-wage-london-business-owners-and-advocates-addressed-ontario-politicians-monday-during-a-public-consultation-session-on-a-proposed-hike
- London businesses cry foul, but higher wage adds money to local economy, says unionist: http://www.lfpress.com/2017/07/14/businesses-cry-foul-but-higher-wage-adds-money-to-local-economy-says-unionist
- Minimum wage proposal out of touch:
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/16/minimum-wage-hike-proposal-out-of-touch - Why Ontario asparagus is at risk if minimum wage goes up: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/famers-walk-away-from-asparagus-1.4211081
- Ontario’s minimum wage increase may actually hurt the poor: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-howard/ontario-minimum-wage_a_23037502/
- Wynne’s minimum wage road show a sham: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/17/wynnes-minimum-wage-road-show-a-sham
- Sorting through objections to a $15 minimum wage: http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1486314-black-sorting-through-objections-to-a-15-minimum-wage
- Letters to the Editor on the minimum wage hike: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2017/07/15/presentations-and-caveats-on-minimum-wage-hike.html
- Government must address huge economic imbalance in Ontario: Hahn: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/government-must-address-huge-economic-imbalance-in-ontario-hahn-2226571.htm
- Temp agencies on the rise as province seeks to protect vulnerable workers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/15/temp-agencies-on-rise-as-province-seeks-to-protect-vulnerable-workers.html - Ontario leaves live-in superintendents exposed: https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/ontario-leaves-live-superintendents-exposed/
- OFL and Fight for $15 and Fairness will present urgently needed changes to Bill 148 at hearings on Friday: http://news.sys-con.com/node/4123229
Sears Canada to continue special monthly pension contributions:
http://www.pionline.com/article/20170714/ONLINE/170719863/sears-canada-to-continue-special-monthly-pension-contributions
- Sears Canada reaches deal with employees on health, pension benefits: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/07/13/sears-canada-employees-ask-court-to-protect-their-health-benefit_a_23028096/
This woman wanted to show what mental illness is really like, so she created a videogame:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/this-woman-wanted-to-show-what-mental-illness-is-really-like-so-she-created-a-videogame-1.4208873
Glimmer of economic growth shows fighting poverty helps us all:
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/16/glimmer-of-growth-shows-fighting-poverty-helps-us-all
Ontario
Statement from Minister Jaczek and Minister Ballard on the appointment of Special Advisor for the Basic Income Pilot Research and Evaluation Advisory Committee:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/news/releases/2017/20170714.aspx
Covering drugs for young people isn’t the best way to fill gaps in health care:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/07/17/covering-drugs-for-young-people-isnt-the-best-way-to-fill-gaps-in-health-care.html
Ontario court halts quarry project over lack of consultation with First Nations:
http://nationalpost.com/news/national/ontario-court-halts-quarry-project-over-lack-of-consultation-with-first-nations/wcm/feffb731-3b15-4494-bef9-0fbe6ccf2cd0
Legal Aid Ontario’s Racialized Community Strategy goes on the road to meet with communities:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/improving-access-to-justice-for-racialized-communities-635050113.html
Government Release: Enhancing safety and quality of care for children and youth across Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2017/07/enhancing-safety-and-quality-of-care-for-children-and-youth-across-ontario.html
How Ontario’s 2018 election campaign will be different from 2014:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-election-2018-june-7-countdown-1.4128011
The countdown to Ontario election 2018: The politics and policies ahead of next June’s vote:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/the-countdown-to-ontario-election-2018
Wente: Kathleen Wynne rises from the dead:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/kathleen-wynne-rises-from-the-dead/article35711976/
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Wellesley Institute: Research and Policy Update:
http://mailchi.mp/wellesleyinstitute/research-policy-updates-july-2017?e=f9b3cd98ac
IRPP: Baldwin and Shillington: Unfinished Business: Pension Reform in Canada:
http://irpp.org/research-studies/study-no64/?mc_cid=82bb1b1087&mc_eid=93c40f0305
IRPP: Papillon and Rodon: Indigenous Consent and Natural Resource Extraction:
http://irpp.org/research-studies/insight-no16/?mc_cid=82bb1b1087&mc_eid=93c40f0305
Mowat Centre: Delivering Benefit: Achieving Community Benefits in Ontario:
http://mailchi.mp/mowatcentre/new-report-delivering-benefit?e=21403e3832
Around the Province
Why are so many of us in Toronto rejoicing in a rooming house becoming a condo?:
http://torontoist.com/2017/07/many-us-rejoicing-rooming-house-becoming-condo/
Toronto leads the country with inaction on homelessness:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/cathy-crowes-blog/2017/06/toronto-leads-country-inaction-homelessness
Changes to Toronto’s Housing Stabilization Fund: Open Letter to the City:
https://ocaptoronto.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/changes-to-the-hsf-open-letter-to-the-city-signed-by-18-organizations/
North York amputee has painful wait for accessible housing:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/14/north-york-amputee-has-painful-wait-for-accessible-housing.html
Canada and Ontario provide $3 million in funding to Timmins Native Friendship Centre housing project:
https://www.timminstoday.com/local-news/canada-and-ontario-provide-3-million-in-funding-to-timmins-native-friendship-centre-housing-project-671100
Loss of time-based transit transfer pilot in Toronto runs counter to city’s poverty reduction strategy:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/opinion-story/7425161-to-in-transit-farewell-to-time-based-transfers/
Ottawa event sheds light on mental health issues in low-income communities:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/mental-health-stigma-cultural-communities-ottawa-1.4207288
Across the Country
New BC Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to move quickly to increase social assistance rates by $100 a month and institute a poverty reduction strategy:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-ndp-cabinet-2017-john-horgan-will-be-sworn-in-as-36th-premier
How BC’s NDP and Greens could unite to improve workers’ lives:
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/07/14/BC-NDP-Greens-Unite-to-Help-Workers/
Real-world guidance for BC’s proposed $10-a-day child care plans:
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-real-world-guidance-for-b-c-s-proposed-10-a-day-child-care-plans
Local businesses and workers impacted by BC wildfires:
http://www.quesnelobserver.com/news/local-businesses-impacted-by-wildfire/
Central Saanich, BC adopts “living wage” policy – everyone will earn at least $20.01 per hour:
http://victoriabctoday.com/central-saanich-municipality-adopts-living-wage-policy-for-all-staff-and-contractors-everyone-will-earn-at-least-20-01-per-hour/
Council in Castlegar, BC hears basic income pilot proposal:
https://www.castlegarnews.com/news/castlegar-council-hears-basic-income-pilot-proposal/
BC’s ex-MLAs get aid in transition to new jobs:
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-s-ex-mlas-get-aid-in-transition-to-new-jobs-1.21179704
Tough call on Manitoba rent assist:
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/07/13/tough-call-on-rent-assist
Council makes Halifax Transit low income bus pass program permanent:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2017/07/18/halifax-transit-low-income-bus-pass-program-permanent.html
Changes to NWT child benefit program mean more money for families:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-child-benefit-changes-1.4211505
National
Three Indigenous groups say they won’t meet with premiers in Edmonton:
http://ipolitics.ca/2017/07/17/three-indigenous-groups-say-they-wont-meet-with-premiers-in-edmonton/
- First Nations group will join premiers meeting despite boycott from others: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/first-nation-group-healthcare-inquiry-premiers-1.4207902
New rules meant to make federal student grants more predictable:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2017/07/17/new-rules-meant-to-make-student-grants-more-predictable.html
Something useful for the premiers to talk about: The rights’ perpetual myth making about equalization:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/alberta-diary/2017/07/something-useful-premiers-talk-about-rights-perpetual-myth
Canada ranks third last in study of health care in 11 rich countries:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-ranks-third-last-in-study-of-health-care-in-11-rich-countries/article35692286/
Prime Minister announces Advisory Board to select next Supreme Court Justice:
http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/07/17/prime-minister-announces-advisory-board-select-next-supreme-court-justice
International
Misconceptions: Raising the minimum wage does not automatically lead to inflation:
https://benjaminstudebaker.com/2015/07/23/misconceptions-raising-the-minimum-wage-does-not-automatically-lead-to-inflation/
- Wetzel’s Pretzels’ CEO says minimum wage increase boosts business: https://www.marketplace.org/2017/02/17/economy/fast-food-ceo-says-minimum-wage-increase-boosts-business
- UW minimum-wage study doesn’t reflect reality of work in Seattle:
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/uw-minimum-wage-study-doesnt-reflect-reality-of-work-in-seattle/
The unhappiness of the US working class:
https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-unhappiness-of-the-us-working-class/
How the New York Times is characterizing disabled people as burdens:
https://rewire.news/article/2017/07/17/new-york-times-characterizing-disabled-people-burdens/
South Korea to boost minimum wage by 16%:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-17/korea-s-minimum-wage-hike-keeps-moon-on-target-for-pay-pledge
Korean, Chinese and Spanish-speaking workers routinely paid below minimum wage in Australia:
http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/wage-theft-on-a-massive-scale-korean-chinese-and-spanish-language-jobs-advertised-below-minimum-wage/news-story/5840800f58114059ffb4118e783d32da
The new “people’s home”: How Sweden is waging war on inequality:
https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/jul/17/peoples-home-sweden-waged-war-inequality-rich-poor-gothenburg
Irish Taoiseach welcomes higher minimum wage recommendation:
http://www.thejournal.ie/minimum-wage-5-3502267-Jul2017/
UK government welfare cuts blamed for 50% surge in mental health issues among unemployed:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/cuts-mental-health-unemployed-rise-government-welfare-reforms-blamed-a7841941.html
NSW government in Australia considers cashless welfare card rollout across state:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-18/andrew-forrest-pushes-for-cashless-welfare-card-in-nsw/8716840
Welfare recipients in some of Australia’s poorest communities slapped with 300,000 fines:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-15/work-for-the-dole-welfare-recipients-slapped-with-300,000-fines/8711132
A basic income really could end poverty forever, but it needs to get detailed and stop being oversold:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/17/15364546/universal-basic-income-review-stern-murray-automation
Is guaranteed income for all the answer to joblessness and poverty?:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-guaranteed-income-for-all-the-answer-to-joblessness-and-poverty/