Top Stories
Ontario Election
“Doug Ford and Cabinet to be Sworn-in as Ontario’s First Ever Government for the People”:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/06/doug-ford-and-cabinet-to-be-sworn-in-as-ontarios-first-ever-government-for-the-people.html
- Doug Ford sworn in as Ontario premier: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/29/doug-ford-sworn-in-as-ontario-premier.html
Doug Ford will move “quite rapidly” once he’s officially Ontario’s premier, expert says:
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/06/28/doug-ford-premier_a_23470278/
Ontario government hiring freeze ices plan to strengthen workplace inspections:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/29/ontario-government-hiring-freeze-ices-plan-to-strengthen-workplace-inspections.html
- Here’s the expenditure restrictions memo from the Secretary of the Cabinet: https://www.ontario.ca/page/news-secretary#2018-june-18
The flip side of Ford’s content-free campaign: Unpleasant surprises may be in store:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-flip-side-of-fords-content-free-campaign-unpleasant-surprises-may-be-in-store
Forget the 416 – Doug Ford says his biggest fans are outside of Toronto:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-toronto-centric-1.4572698
Ford fails to seize opportunity to lower Ontario’s electricity costs by $1.1 billion per year:
http://www.cleanairalliance.org/ford-fails-to-seize-opportunity-to-lower-ontarios-electricity-costs-by-1-1-billion-per-year/
5 ways the Ontario election made history:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/5-ways-the-ontario-election-made-history-1.3965277
- Navigator election analysis: What it all means: https://www.navltd.com/insights/electionanalysis2018/
- The rise and fall of Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/06/22/the-rise-and-fall-of-kathleen-wynnes-liberals.html
- Wynne joins list of female premiers who have never succeeded in re-election bids: https://ipolitics.ca/article/wynne-joins-list-of-female-premiers-who-have-never-succeeded-in-re-election-bids/
- Message received, now Ontario’s Liberal party will try to reconnect with voters: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/18/messaged-received-now-ontarios-liberal-party-will-try-to-reconnect-with-voters.html
- An insider peek at Wynne’s losing campaign: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/06/27/an-insider-peek-at-wynnes-losing-campaign.html
Other Ontario
Toronto’s overcrowded shelter system can’t handle more refugees, Tory’s letter to feds says:
https://www.cp24.com/news/toronto-s-overcrowded-shelter-system-can-t-handle-more-refugees-tory-s-letter-to-feds-says-1.3988924
Ottawa says it can’t help with Toronto migrant problem until Doug Ford takes office:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tory-warns-torontos-shelter-system-cannot-accommodate-new-asylum/
- Letters to the Editor: Seeing red over closure of Green Ontario Fund:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2018/06/23/seeing-red-over-closing.html - ‘Assault on green energy:’ Industry slams Doug Ford’s decision to cancel incentives:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/industry-slams-doug-ford-green-energy-assult-1.4719298?cmp=FB_Post_News - Ontario’s Doug Ford strands ‘thousands’ on waiting list for solar, says industry group:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/06/21/news/ontarios-doug-ford-strands-thousands-waiting-list-solar-says-industry-group - Horwath wants fiscal watchdog to tally price tag of Ford’s plan to scrap cap-and-trade system: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/26/horwath-wants-fiscal-watchdog-to-tally-price-tag-of-fords-plan-to-scrap-cap-and-trade-system.html
Good job prospects improving in the GTA – but only for some, report finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/19/good-job-prospects-improving-in-the-gta-but-only-for-some-report-finds.html
- Editorial: The problem with Ontario’s selective prosperity: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8682079-editorial-the-problem-with-ontario-s-selective-prosperity/
Despite minimum wage fears, student job market looks good:
http://lfpress.com/news/local-news/despite-minimum-wage-fears-student-job-market-looks-good
- How did businesses in Ontario handle the January minimum-wage increase?: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-how-did-businesses-in-ontario-handle-the-january-minimum-wage-increase/
Students in poorer neighbourhoods may miss out on vital programs, report says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/25/students-in-poorer-neighbourhoods-may-miss-out-on-vital-programs-report-says.html
Research finds low prevalence of retirement wealth among Ontarians:
https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/research-finds-low-prevalence-of-retirement-wealth-among-ontarians-116229
Bombardier, Toronto union reach new agreement, averting strike:
http://www.euronews.com/2018/06/25/bombardier-toronto-union-reach-new-agreement-averting-strike
Should Ontario sell the rest of Hydro One? Yes:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/26/should-ontario-sell-the-rest-of-hydro-one-yes.html
Other Top Stories
Lack of licensed care creates daycare “deserts” across Canada:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/28/lack-of-licensed-care-creates-daycare-deserts-across-canada.html
- Here’s the report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/child-care-deserts-canada
- Here’s the interactive map: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/childcaredeserts
Canada Revenue Agency falling behind as uncollected taxes owed rise to $44 billion:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tax-debt-liberal-budget-collections-1.4715967
- Canadians with offshore holdings evade up to $3 billion in tax per year: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/28/canadians-with-offshore-holdings-evade-up-to-3-billion-in-tax-per-year.html
- Wealthy Canadians hiding up to $240 billion abroad, CRA says: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cra-tax-gap-foreign-holdings-1.4726983
Disabled Canadians could be waiting months for money owed by Canada Revenue Agency:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/disability-tax-credit-delay-1.4725374
- Canada’s disability tax credit program needs major overhaul, Senate committee urges: https://globalnews.ca/news/4300107/senate-committee-feds-reform-programs-people-disabilities/
Morneau under pressure to match Trump’s tax cut as finance ministers meet:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/morneau-corporate-tax-trump-1.4721692
UN housing watchdog chides Liberals for watering down rights in housing strategy:
https://ipolitics.ca/2018/06/25/un-housing-watchdog-chides-liberals-for-watering-down-rights-in-housing-strategy/
Canada’s investments in social programs now rank near the bottom of the industrialized world:
http://pressprogress.ca/canadas-investments-in-social-programs-now-rank-near-the-bottom-of-the-industrialized-world/
Federal government tables Canada’s first national accessibility law:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-federal-government-tables-canadas-first-national-accessibility-law/
In praise of dead-end jobs:
https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/in-praise-of-dead-end-jobs/
Why Canada doesn’t have a national pharmacare program, and why we need one:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-june-24-2018-1.4707857/why-canada-doesn-t-have-a-national-pharmacare-program-and-why-we-need-one-1.4716559
Hiring refugees is an opportunity for Canadian businesses:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/25/hiring-refugees-is-an-opportunity-for-canadian-businesses.html
Nearly half of youth incarcerated nationwide are Indigenous: Statistics Canada:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/canada/nearly-half-of-youth-incarcerated-are-indigenous-statistics-canada/wcm/a96e1df6-80a7-454a-ae40-24af26017b95
RCMP Commissioner apologizes to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/25/rcmp-commissioner-apologizes-to-families-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women.html
Unionized Bombardier staff secure pension, dental benefits improvements:
https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/unionized-bombardier-staff-secure-pension-dental-benefits-improvements-116356
Star editorial: Quebec shows the way to fight child poverty:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/06/24/how-to-end-child-poverty.html
Reconciliation is key for Canada’s poverty plan:
https://dignityforall.ca/reconciliation-is-key-for-canadas-poverty-plan/
Disability rights advocates welcome national legislation:
https://dignityforall.ca/reconciliation-is-key-for-canadas-poverty-plan/
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Support the East Hamilton Tenants Rent Strike:
https://ca.gofundme.com/easthamiltonrentstrike
Stats Can: Wages by occupation, 2017:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180626/dq180626a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Stats Can: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, April 2018:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180628/dq180628a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Community Consultations on Toronto’s next Poverty Reduction Strategy:
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/long-term-vision-plans-and-strategies/poverty-reduction-strategy/
- Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy Consultation Guide: https://s.cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/?e=125553&h=C7A85489A6FC298&l=en
Stats Can: Pension plans in Canada, as of January 1, 2017:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180627/dq180627e-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Homeless Hub newsletter: A shared housing agenda: Priorities for Ontario in 2018:
https://mailchi.mp/edu/toward-provincial-leadership-on-affordable-housing?e=6da7d6f883
Inflated figures, inflated opposition: How claims about welfare benefit levels affect public opinion: Study:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/how-claims-about-welfare-benefit-levels-affect-public-opinion/
Around the Province
Toronto parents left scrambling as daycare announces closure:
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/06/26/humberside-daycare-closure/
More than half of refugee claimants in Toronto’s temporary shelters are children, new figures show:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/06/26/more-than-half-of-refugee-claimants-in-torontos-temporary-shelters-are-children-new-figures-show.html
Toronto programs aimed at helping black students facing disciplinary issues can wipe slates clean:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-programs-aimed-at-helping-black-students-facing-disciplinary-issues/
Rooming house pilot aims to give Parkdale tenants ‘fighting chance’:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/18/rooming-house-pilot-aims-to-give-parkdale-tenants-fighting-chance.html
Crossways tenants in Toronto taking landlord to court to stop bullying:
https://www.toronto.com/news-story/8698599-crossways-tenants-taking-landlord-to-court-stop-bullying/
Kenora child poverty rates “disturbing”, report:
https://www.kenoraonline.com/local/child-poverty-rates-disturbing-report
A “lesson in humility” at U of Ottawa’s Poverty Challenge:
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/u-of-ottawa-hosts-poverty-challenge-to-build-empathy-seek-solutions/
Rent up 15.1% in St. Catherines, compared to 2017:
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8680622-rent-up-15-1-in-st-catharines-compared-to-2017/#.WypQsfoT4di.twitter
New stats on homelessness in Peterborough city, county reveal a few surprises:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4289625/new-stats-on-homelessness-in-peterborough-city-county-reveal-a-few-surprises/
Hamilton rent strikers vow to stay put despite eviction threat:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8690160-rent-strikers-vow-to-stay-put-despite-eviction-threat/
Across the Country
Current wages far below what Halifax families need to get by: study:
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/current-wages-far-below-what-halifax-families-need-to-get-by-study-965316
Saint John’s calculated living wage $7 higher than provincial minimum:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-living-wage-hicks-saulnier-1.4715770
How could P.E.I. solve food insecurity? Islanders weigh in:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-food-insecurity-your-comments-1.4724244
PEI squeaks out B- on women’s equality:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-women-equality-report-card-1.4724190
PEI ties for highest rate of food-insecure children among provinces:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-children-food-insecurity-1.4722007
Single mother up against limited housing, employment and child care options in P.E.I.:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/single-mother-up-against-limited-housing-employment-and-child-care-options-in-pei-220917/
Quebec strawberry farm tasting sweet success despite minimum wage hike:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-strawberry-farm-tasting-sweet-success-despite-minimum-wage-hike-1.4718098
Advocates, clients worried about cuts to Sask. rental housing supplement:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/concerns-cuts-sask-rental-housing-supplement-1.4726833
Saskatoon man sues officers who Tasered him after responding to wrong address:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-man-sues-officers-who-tasered-him-after-responding-to-wrong-address-1.4723319
Alberta’s Ministry of Labour asks wage theft suspects to pay up:
https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018/06/21/albertas-ministry-of-labour-asks-wage-theft-suspects-to-pay-up.html
For the first time in years, you’ll need to earn more to live well in Edmonton:
https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2018/06/25/for-the-first-time-in-years-youll-need-to-earn-more-to-live-well-in-edmonton.html
Non-profit CEO describes ‘deplorable’ conditions inside Vancouver’s notorious Regent Hotel:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/regent-residents-moving-out-1.4718856
Google Street View images capture Metro Vancouver’s homeless crisis:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/google-street-view-images-capture-metro-vancouvers-homeless-crisis
B.C. tightens payday lending practices, protecting most vulnerable:
http://www.news1130.com/2018/06/25/b-c-tightens-payday-lending-practices-protecting-most-vulnerable/
To lower the cost of hospitalizing BC’s homeless and mentally ill, housing needs to be a priority: study:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4287667/to-lower-the-cost-of-hospitalizing-b-c-s-homeless-and-mentally-ill-housing-them-needs-to-be-a-priority-sfu-study/
BC cook brought to Canada as temporary foreign worker wins $32,000 in back pay:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-cook-brought-to-canada-as-temporary-foreign-worker-wins-32k-in-back-pay-1.4719767
City of Vancouver endorses “affordable” $1,903 rent for one bedroom in Kerrisdale project:
https://www.straight.com/news/1094866/city-vancouver-endorses-affordable-1903-rent-one-bedroom-kerrisdale-project
Prince Rupert, BC, gets 36 modular homes for homeless residents:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/prince-rupert-b-c-gets-36-modular-homes-for-homeless-residents-1.4726745
Sears retirees in B.C. suffer higher pension cuts than those in Ontario:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sears-bc-pension-cuts-1.4718774
Opinion: BC public pensions fuel climate change crisis:
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-b-c-public-pensions-fuel-climate-change-crisis
National
Employment Insurance recipient list falls to lowest level since 1997:
http://edmontonjournal.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/employment-insurance-recipient-list-falls-to-lowest-level-since-1997/wcm/ec7b31fd-f0a9-4116-b640-c943bb7b3714
Court ruling a victory for opponents of hate speech:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/22/court-ruling-a-victory-for-opponents-of-hate-speech.html
Report recommends longer deferral period for CPP, QPP:
https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/report-recommends-longer-deferral-period-for-cpp-qpp-116335
Michael Wolfson: It’s time Canada had official poverty line:
http://theprovince.com/opinion/op-ed/michael-wolfson-its-time-canada-had-official-poverty-line
Treatment of former Sears Canada workers gets even worse:
https://nupge.ca/content/treatment-former-sears-canada-workers-gets-even-worse
International
The US minimum wage just turned 80. Economists don’t give it enough credit:
http://fortune.com/2018/06/25/minimum-wage-anniversary-american-workers/
- North Dakota’s minimum wage rate leaves many struggling to pay their bills: https://www.myndnow.com/news/bismarck-news/the-state-minimum-wage-rate-leaves-many-struggling-to-pay-their-bills/1265737113
- Chicago minimum wage increases to 12 bucks on July 1: http://www.wjol.com/chicago-minimum-wage-increases-to-12-bucks-on-july-1st/
- San Francisco’s minimum wage increase effective July 1: https://www.thehrdigest.com/san-franciscos-minimum-wage-increase-effective-july-1/
- Germany to raise minimum wage to 9.35 euros in 2020: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-economy-wages/germany-to-raise-minimum-wage-to-935-euros-in-2020-idUSKBN1JM1AS
- Geneva set to vote on world’s highest minimum wage: https://lenews.ch/2018/06/26/geneva-set-to-vote-on-worlds-highest-minimum-wage/
Nikki Haley: ‘It is patently ridiculous for the United Nations to examine poverty in America’:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/06/21/nikki-haley-it-is-patently-ridiculous-for-the-united-nations-to-examine-poverty-in-america/
- UN human rights expert criticizes wealth inequality in US: https://nypost.com/2018/06/23/un-human-rights-expert-criticizes-wealth-inequality-in-us/
- Reality check: Examining US poverty is not “insulting”, experts say: https://globalnews.ca/news/4291053/un-human-rights-council-us-poverty-nikki-haley/
- The U.N. says 18.5 million Americans are in ‘extreme poverty.’ Trump’s team says just 250,000 are: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/06/25/trump-team-rebukes-u-n-saying-it-overestimates-extreme-poverty-in-america-by-18-million-people/
- Donald Trump’s poverty denial: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/donald-trumps-poverty-problem/563960/
- S. policy traps women in poverty, and the world is watching: http://news.trust.org//item/20180622160401-oqi82/
Trump admin’s “tent cities” cost more than keeping migrant kids with parents:
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/trump-admin-s-tent-cities-cost-more-keeping-migrant-kids-n884871
- California crops rot as immigration crackdown creates farmworker shortage: http://fortune.com/2017/08/08/immigration-worker-shortage-rotting-crops/
- S. policy of separating migrant families is ‘government-mandated child abuse,’ says pediatrician:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/u-s-policy-of-separating-migrant-families-is-government-mandated-child-abuse-says-pediatrician-1.4720651
US Supreme Court rules digital companies do not have to have a physical presence in a jurisdiction to be taxed:
http://www.lowellsun.com/opinion/ci_31965598/online-sales-tax-ruling-brings-fairness-headaches
Trump pulls back Obama era protections for women workers:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-pulls-back-obama-era-protections-women-workers-n741041
US Supreme Court rules non-union workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/27/supreme-court-rules-in-janus-labor-union-case.html
Dollar stores are thriving – but are they ripping off poor people?:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/28/dollar-store-ripping-people-off-poverty-inequality
Farm bill passes US house with welfare-to-work reforms:
https://wqad.com/2018/06/22/farm-bill-passes-illinois-house-with-welfare-to-work-reforms/
UN to investigate extreme poverty in the UK – after nearly a decade of austerity:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/un-uk-extreme-poverty-investigation-austerity-conservatives-philip-alston-a8422396.html
Poorer areas of England have more fast-food shops, figures show:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/29/poorer-areas-of-england-have-more-fast-food-shops-figures-show?CMP=share_btn_tw
- Rising energy prices expected to worsen UK fuel poverty: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/26/rising-energy-prices-expected-to-worsen-uk-fuel-poverty
- ‘Period poverty’ campaign sees dozens of schools give free tampons to girls: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/period-poverty-campaign-sees-dozens-of-schools-give-free-tampons-to-girls-a3869561.html
- Why are Londoners relying on food banks and soup kitchens?: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/londoners-relying-food-banks-soup-kitchens-180622180813207.html
Benefit or burden? The cities trying out universal basic income:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jun/27/benefit-or-burden-the-cities-trying-out-universal-basic-income
The ‘supply-and-demand model of labor markets is fundamentally broken,’ and that’s why you’re not getting a pay raise anytime soon:
http://www.businessinsider.com/supply-and-demand-model-of-labour-markets-is-fundamentally-broken-2018-6
German kids likely to grow up affected by poverty if mums don’t work, study finds:
https://www.thelocal.de/20180627/child-poverty-in-germany-highly-dependant-on-mothers-job-status-study-finds
Poverty in Italy at worst for 12 years; new government vows action:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/06/26/poverty-in-italy-at-worst-for-12-years-new-government-vows-action/
Over one in three at risk of poverty in Greece:
http://www.ekathimerini.com/229994/article/ekathimerini/business/over-one-in-three-at-risk-of-poverty-in-greece
Let’s hear about poverty from the poor for a change:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/25/lets-hear-about-poverty-from-poor-people-northern-soul