Top Stories
Record 171,360 Ontario households on 2015 affordable housing waitlist; four-year average wait:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/05/25/ontarios-affordable-housing-wait-list-grows.html
- Looming co-op housing crisis could push 50,000 Canadians out of their homes: http://rabble.ca/news/2016/05/looming-co-op-housing-crisis-could-push-50000-canadians-out-their-homes#.V0dE4f4NH9g.facebook
- Star editorial: More affordable housing is urgently needed: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/05/25/more-affordable-housing-is-urgently-needed-editorial.html
Study: Increase housing affordability – by raising social assistance rates and reducing housing costs – and the need for emergency shelter space will fall:
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/kneebone-the-secrets-to-reducing-homelessness
- Here’s that University of Calgary School of Public Policy study: http://www.policyschool.ucalgary.ca/?q=content/shrinking-need-homeless-shelter-spaces
Broadbent Blog: Indigenous children and racial discrimination as fiscal policy:
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/annastanley/indigenous_children_racial_discrimination_fiscal_policy
CRA is denying the Disability Tax Credit to eligible Canadians with disabilities:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/marvin-ross/disability-tax-credit_b_10108032.html
Man with MS crowdfunds for three showers a week at his long-term care facility: http://www.cjad.com/cjad-news-quebec-beyond/2016/05/26/man-with-ms-crowdfunds-for-three-showers-a-week-at-his-longterm-care-facility
Star editorial: Time to rein in Canada’s tax code:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/05/24/time-to-rein-in-canadas-tax-code-editorial.html
- Canadians for Tax Fairness blog: Time for the accounting industry to reset their moral compass: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/blog/time-accounting-industry-reset-their-moral-compass
- Eggleton: Now is a good time to reform taxation in Canada: http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/05/22/art-eggleton-now-is-a-good-time-to-reform-taxation-in-canada/
One man’s plight highlights the health care gap between Ontario’s rich and poor:
http://www.680news.com/2016/04/20/one-mans-plight-highlights-health-care-gap-between-ontarios-rich-and-poor/
Cooper / Hennessy Op-Ed: The promise of the living wage movement:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/05/27/the-promise-of-the-living-wage-movement.html
One-third of Canadians are working past retirement age just to make ends meet:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-25-2016-1.3598848/canadian-seniors-still-working-to-make-ends-meet-1.3598884
- Opposing CPP expansion is bad advice for Canadian workers: http://windsorstar.com/opinion/letters/opposing-cpp-expansion-bad-advice-for-canadian-workers
37% of homeowners caught short of funds at least once in past year: survey:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/manulife-debt-survey-1.3597485
Opinion: Governments need to act on housing affordability:
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/opinion-governments-need-to-act-on-housing-affordability
Ontario
Ontario to invest in $900 million over four years from cap-and-trade revenues into retrofitting social housing apartments:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2720877/ontario-liberals-to-invest-900m-on-social-housing-retrofits/?sf26906989=1
- Government news release: https://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2016/05/ontario-investing-up-to-900m-in-energy-retrofits-for-social-housing-private-residential-apartment-bu.html
First Nations leaders cautiously optimistic about new provincial indigenous health care plan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/first-nations-ontario-health-care-plan-1.3600417?cmp=abfb
- Government news release: https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2016/05/ontario-launches-222-million-first-nations-health-action-plan.html
Want to address gun crime? Reduce the root causes, including poverty:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/05/25/want-to-address-gun-crime-tackle-root-causes.html
Ontario municipalities seek more SAMS money:
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/6692115-ontario-municipalities-seek-more-sams-money/
Reducing the interest on payday loans is not enough:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/douglas-hoyes/lowering-interest-rates-o_b_10128280.html
Events, Campaigns, Reports, and Other Good Things
Canadian unions launch new CPP campaign “A Better Plan for All”:
http://canadianlabour.ca/news/news-archive/canadian-unions-launch-new-cpp-campaign-%E2%80%9C-better-plan-all%E2%80%9D
May 25: Second annual Justice for Injured Workers Ride in Chatham-Kent:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2016/05/17/second-annual-bike-ride-coming-through-chatham-kent-may-25-26
June 16: Workplace Democracy for the 21st Century:
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/workplace_democracy_for_the_21st_century
A love letter to activists: You are not disposable:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2016/05/love-letter-to-activists-you-are-not-disposable
Social Planning Toronto campaign: Tell your City Councillor to vote for services to reduce poverty:
http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/10198-2/
Study: Poverty causes physical pain:
http://bigthink.com/natalie-shoemaker/study-poverty-causes-physical-pain
Stats Canada: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, March 2016: Average Canadian paycheque rises 0.5% in March to $960:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160526/dq160526a-eng.htm?HPA
Around the Province
Ottawa to pitch low-income bus pass to province:
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/6690163-city-to-pitch-low-income-bus-pass-to-province/
Sault Ste. Marie community group leaders want public input on how to reduce poverty:
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/what-would-you-do-to-reduce-poverty-301218
STEP Niagara working to end poverty:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/05/22/a-step-forward-to-ending-poverty
Landlord licensing passes first major hurdle at Toronto city hall:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/05/19/landlord-licensing-passes-first-major-hurdle-at-city-hall.html
- Editorial: Toronto should license landlords to protect tenants: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/05/18/license-landlords-to-protect-tenants-editorial.html
- com tracks Toronto’s worst landlords and buildings: http://globalnews.ca/news/2709560/website-tracks-torontos-worst-landlords-and-buildings/
Cole: Toronto mayor John Tory continuing Rob Ford’s legacy of austerity:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/05/26/john-tory-extends-rob-fords-legacy-of-austerity-cole.html
Across the Country
Newfoundland is rising against austerity:
http://rankandfile.ca/2016/05/17/newfoundland-is-rising-against-austerity/
Black and Indigenous prisoners over-represented in Nova Scotia jails:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/black-indigenous-prisoners-nova-scotia-jails-1.3591535
Cape Breton group expresses child poverty concerns to Trudeau:
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/great-coup-for-cape-breton-group-expresses-child-poverty-concerns-to-trudeau-1.2912610
Poverty groups continue to pressure BC government over loss of bus pass for people on disability support:
http://castlegarsource.com/news/poverty-groups-continues-pressure-government-over-bc-bus-pass-changes-41601#.V0S0suQsB-9
- More than 160 organizations write to BC Premier opposing changes to bus passes for people with disabilities: http://www.straight.com/news/703596/more-160-organizations-write-premier-christy-clark-opposing-changes-bus-passes-people
BC Premier says no to taxing foreign real estate investors:
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/05/christy-clark-says-no-taxing-foreign-real-estate-investors/
- How to get serious about BC’s affordable housing crisis? CCPA plan says, go big and bold: http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/05/18/CCPA-Affordable-Housing/
Poverty reduction and the living wage in BC:
http://www.nelsonstar.com/opinion/380575641.html
Alberta contributes $6.2 million to Edmonton low income transit pass:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/province-contributes-6-2m-to-edmonton-low-income-transit-pass-1.3602188?cmp=rss&cid=news-digests-edmonton
Edmonton Council gives go-ahead for plan to end poverty:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2719279/edmonton-council-gives-go-ahead-for-plan-to-end-poverty/
- Edmonton’s plan to eliminate poverty in a generation raises questions: http://globalnews.ca/news/2724655/edmonton-plan-to-eliminate-poverty-in-a-generation-raises-questions/
Regina left out of extended EI benefits, despite 39% increase in recipients in March:
http://leaderpost.com/business/money/regina-left-out-of-extended-ei-benefits-despite-39-increase-in-ei-recipients-in-march
- Regional distribution of benefits highlights inequity in EI system: http://rabble.ca/news/2016/05/regional-distribution-benefits-highlights-inequity-ei-system
Montreal North looks for solutions to poverty:
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/montreal-north-looks-for-solutions-to-poverty-1.2911610
National
MPs should hear directly from temporary foreign workers:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/liew-and-rao-mps-should-hear-directly-from-temporary-foreign-workers
- Change should come for migrant farm workers: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2016/05/24/change-coming-for-migrant-farm-workers
Economic advisor to Morneau says Canada needs to act aggressively, and soon, on economic growth:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/05/20/economic-growth-expert-says-canada-needs-to-act-aggressively-and-soon.html
- Poll: Despite government focus on middle-class relief, Canadians’ economic anxiety persists: http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f7dda22184bee7fac707500ef&id=74dfe9c98a&e=9e305f90ee
International
Why the Universal Basic Income is not the best intervention to reduce poverty or income inequality:
https://www.socialeurope.eu/2016/05/why-the-universal-basic-income-is-not-the-best-public-intervention-to-reduce-poverty-or-income-inequality/
Hundreds of thousands protest across France against labour reforms:
http://www.dw.com/en/hundreds-of-thousands-protest-across-france-against-labor-reforms/a-19153238
- France set to grind to a halt as strikes spark fuel shortages and air and rail blockages: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/24/france-set-to-grind-to-a-halt-as-strikes-spark-fuel-shortages-an/
Google Paris offices raided by French tax authorities for “aggravated financial fraud”:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/may/24/google-offices-paris-raided-french-tax-authorities
NYT editorial: McDonald’s profits fat for shareholders, but wages for workers are lean:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/28/opinion/at-mcdonalds-fat-profits-but-lean-wages.html?_r=2
US companies “are stashing so much god damn cash overseas” – an enormous loss of tax revenue:
http://gawker.com/companies-are-stashing-so-much-god-damn-cash-overseas-1777847561
Elderly Florida man kills ailing wife because medication wasn’t affordable:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/19/florida-man-kills-wife-medication-not-affordable
To fight poverty in the US, start with housing:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/281293-to-fight-poverty-start-with-housing
UK man with a disability forced to quit his job because of benefit cuts:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/disabled-multiple-sclerosis-sufferer-who-7978372?#dwVz7xjVSuA2ySAc.97
In the UK, inequality is destroying all the markers of adulthood, from home ownership to marriage:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/25/housing-crisis-jobs-babies-inequality-growing-up-world-changed-young-people-capitalism-failures-adulthood
Australian welfare groups put pressure on government over homelessness:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mission-australia-anglicare-unitingcare-the-salvation-army-wesley-mission-and-st-vincent-de-paul-pressure-government-on-homelessness-20160523-gp1am9.html
Adding a legal dimension to multidimensional poverty:
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/future-development/posts/2016/05/19-legal-view-multidimensional-poverty-prettitore
Ending poverty means closing the gaps between women and men:
https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/ending-poverty-means-closing-gaps-between-women-and-men
ILO report says quality jobs with social protection vital to ending poverty:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1947315/poverty-increasing-developed-countries-according-report