Top Stories
Injured workers being systematically disentitled from WSIB; labour asks Ombudsman to investigate:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/29/provincial-watchdog-urged-to-investigate-wsib.html
Proposed Quebec legislation is “a direct attack against human rights” of people receiving social assistance:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2478596/new-quebec-bill-could-mean-trouble-for-the-homeless/
- Coalition of social groups decries attack on Quebec’s most vulnerable: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bill-70-quebec-welfare-1.3418086
Human Rights Commission rules Ottawa discriminates against First Nations kids on reserve:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/01/26/ottawa-discriminated-against-kids-on-reserves-human-rights-panel-says.html
- APTN coverage: Ruling is historic: http://aptn.ca/news/2016/01/26/ottawa-discriminates-against-first-nation-children-says-historic-ruling-from-canadian-human-rights-tribunal/
- Pam Palmater: Decision is a game changer for First Nations: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Canada-Human-Rights-Decision-a-Game-Changer-for-First-Nations-20160127-0041.html
- Here’s the ruling: https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/2016%20CHRT%20Ruling%20on%20FN%20child%20welfare%20case.pdf
New report from Ontario Human Rights Commission strongly links mental health disabilities and poverty:
http://www.cp24.com/news/ohrc-report-strongly-links-mental-illness-to-poverty-unemployment-1.2754681
- By the Numbers: A statistical profile of people with mental health and addiction disabilities in Ontario: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/numbers-statistical-profile-people-mental-health-and-addiction-disabilities-ontario
- How my job at Bell Canada gave me mental health issues and no benefits: http://canadalandshow.com/article/lets-talk-about-how-my-job-bell-gave-me-mental-health-issues-and-no-benefits
Federal, provincial and territorial social services ministers meeting Feb 4/5 “on social outcomes for Canadians”:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=index&crtr.page=4&nid=1029579
- Ontario being urged to champion child care on the national stage: http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/01/26/ontario-urged-to-champion-child-care-on-national-stage.html
- Disappearing middle class is “defining issue of our time” that federal government must address, say participants at Hill Times event: http://www.hilltimes.com/news/2016/01/26/disappearing-middle-class-defining-issue-of-our-time/45043
- Canadian immigrants are unemployed or underemployed; could earn $17Billion more if their credentials were recognized: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/canadian-immigrants-could-earn-17b-more-annually-if-their-credentials-were-recognized-study-says-1.3422322
- Progressive Economics guest post: Redistribution, Inequality and Federal Policy: http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2016/01/20/redistribution-inequality-and-federal-policy-guest-post-by-edgardo-sepulveda/
- Jackson: Fighting seniors poverty – OAS and GIS aren’t cutting it: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/andrew_ajackson/fighting_seniors_poverty
Details emerging on Ontario pension plan, like the ORPP will be indexed to inflation:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kathleen-wynne-ontario-pension-1.3420058
- News Release: Province completes design of Ontario Retirement Pension Plan: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/01/province-completes-design-of-the-ontario-retirement-pension-plan.html
- Chamber of Commerce warns 2017 start for ORPP is “very aggressive”: http://london.ctvnews.ca/chamber-of-commerce-warns-2017-start-for-ontario-pension-plan-is-very-aggressive-1.2752796
- Why our outdated pension plans need a fix now: http://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/6248620-why-our-outdated-pension-plans-need-a-fix-now-cohn/
- Is flexible federalism the best fix for CPP reform? http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/is-flexible-federalism-the-best-fix-for-cpp-reform/
Ontario
Letters to the editor: Fix lax standards in the workplace:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2016/01/25/fixing-lax-standards-in-the-workplace.html
News Release: Ontario hiring more mental health workers for children and youth:
https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2016/01/ontario-hiring-more-mental-health-workers-for-children-and-youth.html
News Release: Ontario increasing wages for early childhood educators:
https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2016/01/ontario-increasing-wages-for-early-childhood-educators.html
Developmental Services Housing Task Force of the Ministry of Community and Social Services has issued a call for proposals for “creative, inclusive and cost-effective housing projects”:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/developmental/htf/index.aspx#full
Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things
Excellent upcoming workshops with Tools for Change in Toronto:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=93fc295adc37a22f7f3b68bb9&id=ca690208b0
CCAAC: Shared framework for building an early childhood education and care system for all:
https://ccaacacpsge.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/sharedframework_jan2016.pdf
New migrant workers rights fact sheets from Migrant Workers Alliance for Change:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9de587703062110954e080261&id=7b19267530
Jan 31: Toronto’s Beach United Church is hosting an event with Michael Shapcott about affordable housing and homelessness:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6248658-learn-about-affordable-housing-homelessness-at-beach-united-church/
Around the Province
Task force recommends big changes to Toronto Community Housing:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/task-force-recommends-new-non-profit-version-of-toronto-community-housing-1.3419969
Toronto’s promising alternative to child protection is in demand:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/child-protection-toronto-1.3412298
Toronto’s poverty reduction strategy needs a big infusion of investment, says Commitment 2 Community:
http://www.povertyreductionto.ca/uploads/2/0/7/8/20780132/draft_release_jan_26_final.pdf
- Council won’t fund poverty reduction properly. On Feb 9, come to the Rally and Bake Sale for Anti-Poverty Action: https://www.facebook.com/events/890072094439315/
It’s Anti-Poverty Week in Peterborough:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2016/01/26/anti-poverty-week-begins
Flooded-out tenants get more money from landlord after intervention by Hamilton Community Legal Clinic:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/flooded-rebecca-st-building-landlord-offers-tenants-more-money-1.3419005
Report says poverty levels in Hamilton are no better today than 10 years ago:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6253522-poverty-levels-no-better-than-10-years-ago/
- More on the Hamilton Roundtable’s report: http://www.chch.com/anti-poverty-group/
- Audio: Hamilton groups are sending report on poverty to the UN’s Human Rights Committee: https://soundcloud.com/am900chml/hamilton-anti-poverty-groups-are-sending-a-report-on-poverty-in-hamilton-canada-the-uns-committee
Welland city council becomes the second to endorse a basic income guarantee:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/01/21/council-supports-basic-income
- Activists say Kingston’s endorsement of Basic Income should lead Sault Ste. Marie to agree: http://www.saultthisweek.com/2016/01/26/local-activists-urge-adoption-of-anti-poverty-plan
- City of Kawartha Lakes council “backs away” from the conversation: http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6251871-council-backs-away-from-conversation-about-basic-income-guarantee/
Thunder Bay father shocked by allegations that his son was murdered:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-student-deaths-inquest-father-shocked-by-allegations-of-murder-1.3414512?cmp=abfb
Windsor Public Library creating community hub to help people who are homeless and living in poverty:
http://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/6249761-windsor-public-library-to-create-community-hub-to-help-homeless-and-those-in-poverty/
Councillors in Hamilton blame province and feds for gap in trusteeship program funding:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6237971-councillors-blame-province-feds-for-trusteeship-gap/
Tim Hortons owner reaches out to unemployed GTA Goodwill workers, many of whom have disabilities:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/24/tim-hortons-owner-reaches-out-to-unemployed-goodwill-workers.html
Across the Country
Saskatchewan Social Services Minister defends decision to allow developer to walk from low-income housing construction contract:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/minister-defends-decision-to-return-low-income-housing-to-private-company-1.2760211
Report: The experience of homelessness in Red Deer: An ethnographic perspective:
http://homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/Final_Ethnography2015.pdf
Tulita, NWT, food prices jump as Northern Store flies in groceries:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/tulita-food-prices-road-1.3414228
BC jails have become “default mental health facilities” says the union representing jail staff:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/jails+have+become+default+mental+health+facilities+union/11670650/story.html
Vancouver set to approve first Downtown Eastside tower with 60% social housing requirement:
http://www.straight.com/news/622561/city-set-approve-first-downtown-eastside-tower-60-percent-social-housing-requirement
Victoria BC group planning a supervised injection site with or without federal permission:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/victoria-group-supervised-injection-1.3423147
EI claims continue to increase in BC’s oil-dependent Peace Region:
http://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/regional-news/peace-region-ei-claims-rose-in-2015-statscan-1.2158543
National
Migrant workers petition the feds for permanent residence upon arrival:
http://ipolitics.ca/2016/01/25/migrant-workers-asking-liberal-government-for-permanent-residency-upon-arrival/
- National Post coverage: http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com%2Fnews%2Fmigrant-farm-workers-call-for-permanent-residency-ability-to-bring-families-to-canada
- Harvesting Freedom campaign for migrant worker rights: https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-migrant-workers-harvesting-freedom-50-years-of-farm-worker-resistance
CP Rail to cut up to 1,000 jobs as rail volume slumps:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cp-rail-jobs-profits-1.3413696
Waiting for the ruling on whether Canada has discriminated against First Nations children on reserves:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/behind-canadas-great-cauliflower-crisis/article28367845/
The economic realities behind Canada’s “great cauliflower crisis”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/behind-canadas-great-cauliflower-crisis/article28367845/
Postal banking would put a dent in the payday loan business:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/letters/1332902-postal-banking-would-dent-payday-loan-business
What the Liberal government will be up to as Parliament resumed this week:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hall-parliament-returns-liberals-commons-1.3417851
The top staffers in the PMO:
http://www.hilltimes.com/news/news/2016/01/25/meet-pmos-no-2-top-dog-jeremy-broadhurst/45019?mcl=&muid=
Fraser Institute says “only” 1.5% of Canadians are stuck in poverty permanently:
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/01/25/poverty-can-be-persistent-or-temporary-fraser-institute-report
- Fraser Institute’s ideas for a national poverty strategy: http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/how-politicians-can-get-at-the-real-poverty-problem
International
In the US, mass incarceration creates “million dollar blocks”:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/07/30/how-mass-incarceration-creates-million-dollar-blocks-in-poor-neighborhoods/?postshare=5611453694109584&tid=ss_fb
Clinton-era welfare reforms were an attack on women:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2016/01/25/welfare-reform-attack-women/0CYmsKni3Qh2fQUE9UAmrI/story.html
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, isn’t just about water – it’s about poverty:
http://www.justinwedes.com/2016/01/21/the-flint-crisis-is-not-just-about-the-water-its-about-poverty/
Google pays Britain $185 million to settle back taxes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/technology/google-pays-britain-185-million-to-settle-back-taxes.html?_r=1
UK Tory welfare cuts to people with disabilities defeated in the House of Lords:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smith-defeated-over-7260502
UK Lib-Dems to fight welfare cut that will cost single parents £1,000 a year:
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/libdems-to-fight-welfare-cut-that-will-cost-single-parents-1000-a-year-a3165206.html