Top Stories
Nunavut considering ending the clawback of the National Child Benefit Supplement from social assistance benefits:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-looks-at-exempting-low-income-family-tax-credit-1.3190451
- PEI increases social assistance food benefit by up to 17%: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/p-e-i-social-assistance-food-allowance-increased-1.3191693
- “Being on ODSP sometimes feels like I’m trapped in a bubble I can’t get out of”: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/street-haven/poverty-never-ending-cycle_b_8040714.html
Who actually are the “middle class” that politicians are always talking about?
http://milescorak.com/2015/08/28/who-are-the-middle-class/#more-6192
New poll finds Canadians are worried about economic recession and their own financial security:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/canadians-worried-about-recession-new-poll-finds
New Thunder Bay ID bank at local legal clinic keeps important papers safe for vulnerable people:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/new-id-bank-in-thunder-bay-ont-keeps-id-papers-safe-for-vulnerable-people-1.3191774
- Street Health in Toronto has a similar program: http://www.streethealth.ca/programs-and-services/id-safe#.Vd9DkZeTTk2
Doctors as advocates for low-income patients: One medical student’s experience:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/08/16/what-i-learned-as-a-medical-student-working-with-low-income-families.html
Housing First could help Canada could end homelessness, and it would only cost $46 / year:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/08/13/housing-first-federal-election_n_7949510.html
Op-Ed: Basic income is just what the doctor ordered:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/08/26/basic-income-just-what-the-doctor-ordered.html
Why the North resents Toronto: PFIB’s tour of poverty in the North:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/08/23/why-the-north-resents-toronto-goar.html
Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff
Federal Election Right to Housing Forum, September 30 in Toronto:
https://righttohousing.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/save-the-date-right-to-housing-forum/
Upcoming Statistics Canada workshops in Toronto and Ottawa:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-bin/workshop/wst.cgi?region=ontario
Migrant Worker Services Fair in Cobourg September 1:
http://northumberlandview.ca/index.php?module=news&type=user&func=display&sid=36434
September 17 event in Toronto: Resisting Racism, Past, Present and Future:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/september-17-resisting-racism-past-present-and-future
Upcoming training for front-line workers who serve migrant workers in Ontario:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9de587703062110954e080261&id=92d1d51a7c&e=473784de67
Workers Compensation webinar for migrant workers, their allies, community organizations and community legal clinics, September 21:
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/s/registrations/new?cid=yh5u6cq1lk83
John Howard Society report says Ontario’s jails are warehousing people with mental illness:
http://www.nugget.ca/2015/08/18/mentally-ill-warehoused-in-jail
- Here’s the report: http://www.johnhoward.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Unlocking-Change-Final-August-2015.pdf
- More coverage from the Sault: http://www.saultstar.com/2015/08/21/prison-no-place-for-mentally-ill
- Star editorial: Stop criminalizing mental illness: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/08/17/stop-criminalizing-mental-illness-editorial.html
Linking the purchasing power of Ontario’s public institutions with their communities is key to reducing poverty, says new report:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/24/linking-public-institutions-to-communities-key-to-tackling-poverty-report-says.html
- Here’s the report: http://mowatcentre.ca/anchor-institutions/
- Star editorial: Anchor Strategy is a smart idea: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/08/24/anchor-strategy-is-a-smart-way-to-fight-poverty-editorial.html
Mowat report says Community Benefits Agreements can help local communities share the benefits of infrastructure investments:
- Here’s the report: http://mowatcentre.ca/community-benefits-agreements/
- Some coverage of Toronto’s Eglinton-Crosstown CBA from April: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/the-plan-train-and-hire-torontos-neediest-for-six-figure-jobs-the-catch-how-to-find-them/article24008225/
Canada Without Poverty publication: Human Rights and Poverty Strategies, A Guide to International Human Rights Law and its Domestic Application in Poverty Reduction Strategies:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/action/human-rights-guide/
Ontario
Ontario government urged to bring First Nations into discussions about Hydro privatization, or risk legal action:
http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/legalfeeds/2849/ontario-urged-to-bring-first-nations-into-hydro-one-negotiation.html
- Chiefs of Ontario leader Isadore Day says First Nations were almost complete excluded from consultations:http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2015/08/18/ontario-did-not-consult-first-nations-on-hydro-one-sale.html
Small business worried about impact of Ontario Retirement Pension Plan:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-money/small-businesses-worried-about-impact-of-ontario-retirement-pension-plan/article25993625/
First Poverty Reduction Fund project gets up to $300,000 for new technology in Perth and Huron Counties:
http://news.ontarionewsroom.com/tbs/en/2015/08/local-poverty-reduction-fund-to-invest-in-new-technology-for-perth-and-huron-organizations.html
Around the Province
Waterloo Chronicle 3-part series on wait lists that people with low incomes must endure:
- Introductory editorial: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/opinion/more-than-just-numbers/
- Waiting for affordable housing: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/the-waiting-game-affordable-housing/
- Waiting for a reduced fare transit pass: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/the-waiting-game-transit-for-reduced-income-program/
- Waiting for mental health and addictions services: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/the-waiting-game-mental-health-and-addictions/
Creative solutions to homelessness in Waterloo:
http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news/creative-solutions-developed-to-deal-with-homelessness/
Star editorial: More black kids in Children’s Aid Society care should be a concern to everyone:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/08/26/toronto-cas-leads-on-black-kids-in-care-editorial.html
Thunder Bay mayor supports Basic Income Guarantee and Housing First and wants senior governments to show leadership on poverty:
http://leadersandlegacies.com/2015/08/25/reliable-basic-income-would-lead-to-better-self-worth-and-a-better-life-thunder-bay-mayor/
St. Catherines mayor brings together poverty reduction advisory group:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/14/focus-key-to-mayors-poverty-advisory-group
- More coverage: http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/5804867-sendzik-takes-next-step-in-addressing-poverty-in-st-catharines/
- Local activist says people living in poverty, not agency reps, are the real experts: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/26/activist-experts-on-poverty-are-the-poor-themselves
Column: Fighting poverty in Niagara with housing First:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/20/siegel-fighting-poverty-with-housing-first
Toronto’s Parkdale residents still dealing with fallout of evictions from Queen’s Hotel:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5804218-queen-s-hotel-evicted-tenant-has-no-intention-of-returning/
Painful changes as Metropolitan United Church and other downtown churches change focus:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/16/painful-changes-face-those-need-churchs-charity-fiorito.html
New community organization in Clearview Township seeks to help people living in poverty:
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5799760-community-organization-focuses-on-poverty-in-clearview-township/
Across the Country
After 36 years, NFLD injured worker “angry and alone” but not the only one inadequately treated by WSIB:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/36-years-spent-in-poverty-and-pain-injured-worker-says-1.3193818
“My Week on Welfare” documentary airs in Nova Scotia this weekend:
http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/video/my-week-welfare-documentary-shows-day-day-realitie/33828
74% more Albertans receiving Employment Insurance than one year ago, due to slump in energy sector:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Seventy+four+cent+more+Albertans+receiving+Employment+Insurance+compared+year/11305270/story.html
- EI claims also up in Saskatchewan: http://www.620ckrm.com/ckrm-on-air/ckrm-local-news/11887-more-people-collecting-employment-insurance-in-saskatchewan
Saskatchewan advisory group sets 50-in-5 target to reduce poverty by 50% by 2020:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/advisory-group-wants-poverty-reduced-in-saskatchewan-by-50-per-cent-in-5-years-1.3202132
- Saskatchewan government’s press release on advisory group’s recommendations: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/news-and-media/2015/august/24/poverty-reduction-strategy
BC First Nations say lack of government consultation on Site C dam will cause irreparable harm:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/b-c-first-nations-lawyer-says-crown-didn-t-consult-on-specific-site-c-permits-1.3196500?cmp=rss
- BC government selling lands and social housing stock to non-profits: http://www.straight.com/news/510621/bc-government-sells-part-land-stock-nonprofits-social-housing
- Vancouver’s former remand centre redeveloped into affordable housing: http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/mission-accomplished-how-city-jail-became-homes-hopeful-views
- Maple Ridge, BC, to end homeless shelter contract with Salvation Army, but could have unintended effect:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-city-dumping-sally-ann-shelter-in-dispute-over-services/article26093679/
What parents are spending across the country on back-to-school supplies:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/08/25/back-to-school-prices-canada_n_8033152.html
National
“Less overt” discrimination is rampant in Canadian workplaces, says researcher:
http://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-news/less-overt-discrimination-rampant-in-workplaces-195103.aspx
New poll says Canadians want CPP expanded:
http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/08/26/forum-survey-indicates-most-voters-want-pension-contributions-and-benefits-increased
Internal report shows Canada’s retirement income system scores poorly, and policies ignore evidence:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/document-raises-questions-about-harper-retirement-policies-1.3198157
Fraser Institute study says income inequality isn’t a problem in Canada:
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/uploadedFiles/fraser-ca/Content/research-news/research/publications/income-inequality-measurement-sensitivities.pdf
- But there are problems with their methodology: http://worthwhile.typepad.com/worthwhile_canadian_initi/2015/08/veall-fi.html
- Coverage: http://ipolitics.ca/2015/07/30/fraser-institute-report-says-no-income-inequality-crisis-in-canada/
Are Canada’s newly-created jobs more precarious? It depends:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2169728/reality-check-are-canadas-newly-created-jobs-part-time-precarious-and-low-paid/
First Nations more than twice as likely to die of avoidable causes, says Stats Can report:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/first-nations-adults-more-than-twice-as-likely-to-die-from-avoidable-causes-1.3196496?cmp=abfb
Federal Election
Rural Ontario Institute’s list of questions for federal election candidates and ranks poverty, food security and unemployment as high priority concerns:
http://www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca/ (scroll down the page)
Social policy resources at Social Planning Network of Ontario’s “Canada Votes 2015” website:
http://www.spno.ca/canada-votes-2015
Barrier Free Canada Election Action Kit:
http://barrierfreecanada.org/election-2015/
We need a national food policy so no Canadian goes hungry:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/doreen-nicoll/2015/08/we-need-national-food-policy-so-no-one-canada-goes-hungry
Will the opposition unite to fight tax avoidance that’s costing us billions?
http://rabble.ca/news/2015/07/canada-losing-billions-will-ndp-and-liberals-unite-to-fight-tax-avoidance
The election will be a test of the Fair Elections Act:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2015/08/23/fair-elections-act-will-bring-changes-to-election-day.html
International
What fuels economic growth? Good jobs and wages, not the other way around:
http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/31850-focus-good-jobs-and-wages-fuel-growth
- Data shows Seattle’s minimum wage increase has had no impact on employers or number of restaurant jobs:http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/08/25/latest-seattle-jobs-numbers-disprove-foxs-minim/205155
August 22 1996: US President Clinton signs welfare reform act into law; signalling “ the death knell of any government-supported vision of an equitable, egalitarian America”:
http://www.thenation.com/article/august-22-1996-bill-clinton-ends-welfare-as-we-know-it/
- If drug testing US welfare recipients is ineffective, why are so many states doing it? http://www.clasp.org/news-room/clips/why-the-conversation-over-drug-testing-welfare-applicants-continues
- Dallas non-profit reduces poverty by helping people into new careers: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/mercedes-olivera/20150822-skill-quest-curbs-dallas-poverty-by-helping-workers-move-into-new-careers.ece
Death is now part of Britain’s social benefits system:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/27/death-britains-benefits-system-fit-for-work-safety-net?CMP=soc_3156
- 4000 people found to have died within six weeks of being declared “fit for work”: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/08/27/benefits-death-claimants-welfare-ids_n_8047424.html
- Petition to release the data strikes a chord: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/08/27/maggie-zolobajluk-dwp-petition_n_8048456.html?1440689922
- Scotland report says the poor face a “poverty premium” of ten percent more on energy bills: http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/poverty-premium-forces-poor-to-pay-10-more-1-3866306
- Unemployed youth to go through “work boot camp” or be cut off benefits: http://www.itv.com/news/2015-08-17/unemployed-youngsters-to-be-put-through-work-boot-camp-or-face-losing-benefits/
Police in Ireland now sitting in on social assistance benefit eligibility review interviews:
http://www.thejournal.ie/social-weflare-claimants-gardai-2282986-Aug2015/
China has virtually eradicated urban poverty, but must now set its sights on tackling inequality:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2015/aug/19/china-poverty-inequality-development-goals
Finland considering reforming welfare system by introducing basic income:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33977636
Australia PM says cashless welfare card will “lift people up by their bootstraps”:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-24/pm-backs-welfare-card-trial-in-northern-western-australia/6719104
- The card is intended to restrict spending on alcohol and gambling: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/healthy-welfare-card-restricts-spending-on-alcohol-gambling-20150818-gj1hvj.html
- Opposition calls the move a “paternalistic thought bubble by a billionaire”: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/19/labor-party-will-consider-cashless-welfare-debit-cards-legislation
The global precariat are stressed, insecure, angry, and they’re getting politically engaged:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/precariat-stressed-out-insecure-alienated-and-angry