Top Stories
No Fixed Address: Rental market for Torontonians on disability “absolutely horrible”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/no-fixed-address-disability-1.4002514
- Lack of funding means Toronto Community Housing could board up a unit a day in 2018:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/01/17/lack-of-funds-means-tch-could-board-up-a-unit-a-day-in-2018.html
Hydro rates to drop 17%, but Ontarians will pay for it later:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-price-plan-kathleen-wynne-1.4006021
- Hydro rate increases will be held to rate of inflation after 25 percent cut: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/03/02/hydro-rate-increases-will-be-held-to-inflation-after-25-cut.html
- Hydro relief plan will kick in this summer: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/03/01/premier-kathleen-wynnes-hydro-relief-plan-will-kick-in-this-summer.html
- Excluded from Ontario’s hydro cuts, firms say they can’t compete: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-wynne-slashes-hydro-rates/article34183180/
- Vulnerable Ontarians to see significant reductions in their electricity bills: http://www.lowincomeenergy.ca/news-events/2017/03/vulnerable-ontarians-to-see-significant-reductions-in-their-electricity-bills/
- Seniors group (CARP) welcomes hydro relief, but has concerns: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/03/03/seniors-group-welcomes-hydro-relief-but-has-concerns
- First Nation leaders say Premier Wynne’s hydro announcement today will strengthen government-to-government relationship: http://www.chiefs-of-ontario.org/node/1513
- The Ontario 2018 provincial election unofficially started today: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/03/02/ontario-2018-provincial-election-unofficially-started-today/
Big changes considered for Ontario workplaces:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-changing-workplaces-review-labour-law-1.3994571
- Business, labour brace for changes to Ontario’s workplace laws: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-changing-workplaces-review-business-labour-1.4001467
Filing taxes brings major benefits to people on low incomes:
https://maytree.com/stories/filing-taxes-brings-major-benefits-people-low-incomes/
Publicly funding dental care could help ease the fentanyl crisis, and more:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/a-doctor-argues-for-public-dental-care-i-don-t-breastfeed-and-that-s-ok-and-raise-the-gst-1.3996693/publicly-funding-dental-care-could-help-ease-the-fentanyl-crisis-and-more-1.3996751
- Letter to the editor: Add dental care to OHIP: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2017/02/24/add-dental-care-to-ohip.html
NDP bill would limit new child-care funding to non-profit centres:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/01/ndp-bill-would-limit-new-child-care-funding-to-non-profit-centres.html
Universal public coverage of essential drugs would improve health care, research suggests:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/essential-medicine-health-canada-1.3998964
Blind cabinet minister promises Canada’s first national accessibility legislation will have teeth, could be retroactive:
http://www.hilltimes.com/2017/02/27/qualtrough-promises-national-accessibility-legislation-will-teeth-retroactive/97462
#MMIW Inquiry set to begin hearings in May:
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/02/27/mmiw-inquiry-set-to-begin-hearings-in-may/
Ontario
Government announcement and backgrounders on hydro rate reduction plan:
- Ontario cutting electricity bills by 25 per cent: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/03/ontario-cutting-electricity-bills-by-25-per-cent.html
- Enhancing electricity support and conversation programs: https://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2017/03/enhancing-electricity-support-and-conservation-programs.html
- Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-fair-hydro-plan
- Premier’s statement: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/03/premiers-statement-on-ontarios-fair-hydro-plan.html
Electricity stories from before the Hydro announcement:
- Current HST hydro rebate benefits rich more, report suggests: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hydro-hst-cuts-electricity-bills-1.4005751
- Here’s the CCPA’s report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/hydro
- NDP plan to cut hydro prices: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ontariondp/pages/1645/attachments/original/1488201638/FINAL_NDP_Hydro_Announcement_(14).pdf?1488201638
- Low-income residents in Simcoe County seek relief from shock of hydro bills: http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7151156-low-income-residents-in-simcoe-county-seek-relief-from-shock-of-energy-bills/
- Ontario Energy Board orders utility companies to reconnect all customers: http://globalnews.ca/news/3269202/ontario-energy-board-orders-utility-companies-to-reconnect-all-customers/
- No one can make electricity cheap again – and why hydro is so expensive:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/23/no-one-cant-make-electricity-cheap-again.html - Time to fix hydro mistake: http://socialistproject.ca/bullet/1372.php
- Explaining the rapid increase in energy prices: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/28/explaining-the-rapid-increase-in-energy-prices-opinion.html
Criminalization of opioids is costing lives: Cole:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/03/02/criminalization-of-opioids-is-costing-lives-cole.html
How union leaders can change with the times – or not: Cohn:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/02/27/how-union-leaders-can-change-with-the-times-or-not-cohn.html
Ontario gets ‘kickback’ from inmates’ collect calls, lawyer says:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-government-bell-jail-inmate-collect-call-commissions-1.3997146
Government release: Ontario making progress in plan to end violence against Indigenous women:
https://news.ontario.ca/mirr/en/2017/03/ontario-making-progress-in-plan-to-end-violence-against-indigenous-women.html
Progressive Conservatives tracking toward super majority; Third party status possible for Wynne’s Liberals:
http://poll.forumresearch.com/post/2666/progressive-conservatives-tracking-toward-super-majority
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
$15 and Fairness Update: Changing Workplaces Review – report release timing and upcoming events:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=16a903a477&e=f3bab51a7a
March 3: Canadians for Tax Fairness: Explosive CBC documentary tonight on KPMG tax deals:
http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/news/explosive-documentary-kpmg-tax-deals
- The Current: How accounting firm KPMG helped wealthy Canadians dodge their taxes: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-2-2017-1.4005007/how-accounting-firm-kpmg-helped-wealthy-canadians-dodge-their-taxes-1.4005033
- KPMG offshore tax dodge a ‘façade’ designed to hide money, ex-client says: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpmg-offshore-tax-dodge-1.4002778
March 7: Public Legal Education Session on Housing in Guelph:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/public-legal-education-session-housing-tickets-31510425531
Upcoming workshops in Toronto: Retiring on a Low Income: Plain Language Advice:
http://openpolicyontario.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Personal-Finance-Low-Income-9-branches-3.pdf
Stats Can: The sharing economy in Canada:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170228/dq170228b-eng.htm
Stats Can: RRSP contributions 2015:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170224/dq170224b-eng.htm
A new economy and a fair transition for workers:
http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2017/a-new-economy-and-a-fair-transition-for-workers/
Maytree: Should the National Housing Strategy include a housing benefit?:
https://maytree.com/publications/national-housing-strategy-include-housing-benefit/
Around the Province
Durham first to launch online social housing system:
http://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/101032
Tiny house wave comes to Hamilton with new affordable housing project:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/hamilton/laneway-tiny-units-1.3998639
Column: How you can help Sudbury’s homeless:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/02/25/column-how-you-can-help-sudburys-homeless
Toronto landlords charging potential tenants just to apply for an apartment, Radio-Canada finds:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/landlords-charging-for-application-fee-1.4007281
- High rent could make Toronto a ‘generational ghost town’: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/high-rent-could-make-toronto-a-generational-ghost-town-1.3999022
- Toronto councillors call for province to protect tenants from rent increases:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/02/28/toronto-councillors-call-for-province-to-protect-tenants-.html - Toronto’s new apartment bylaw could help crack down on bad landlords: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/apartment-bylaw-toronto-bad-landlords-municipal-licensing-committee-1.4004117
- Five things Toronto renters should know about landlord licensing:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/02/27/toronto-landlord-licensing-renters-.html - A winter of discontent and homeless deaths:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017-02-27t000000/winter-discontent-and-homeless-deaths
City of Toronto establishes Lived Experience Advisory Group to assist with poverty reduction efforts:
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=af71df79b2df6410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&nrkey=C007A8346E410BAD852580D40053AF30
Star editorial: Toronto must enforce its ‘sanctuary city’ status:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/02/21/toronto-must-enforce-its-sanctuary-city-status-editorial.html
Across the Country
BC budget gives little to tackle poverty and affordability:
http://theprovince.com/opinion/columnists/trish-garner-b-c-budget-gives-little-to-tackle-poverty-and-affordability
- A befuddling question: Why are those on social assistance in BC ignored?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/a-befuddling-question-why-are-those-on-social-assistance-in-bc-ignored/article34136252/
- “They expect you to live with nothing”: BC welfare rates lag behind inflation: http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/02/27/bc-government-welfare-disability-assistance-stagnant-budget.html
BC’s minimum wage to reach $11.35 an hour by September 15:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2074671/bcs-minimum-wage-reach-us860-hour-september
Homelessness task force calls on province for poverty reduction plan:
http://www.peacearchnews.com/news/414895984.html
- Nearly 600,000 British Columbians live in poverty and BC still has no poverty reduction plan: http://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/43259/nearly-600000-british-columbians-live-poverty-bc-still-no-poverty-reduction-plan/
Poverty hard on BC students and teachers, educator says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/poverty-hard-on-b-c-students-and-teachers-educator-says-1.4006939
Vancouver mayor blames province for ‘war on the poor’:
http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/vancouver-mayor-blames-province-for-war-on-the-poor-1.10681189
Basic income in BC? Green Party wants it but some welfare advocates don’t:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/basic-income-in-b-c-green-party-wants-it-but-some-welfare-advocates-don-t-1.3999759
PEI minimum wage moving to $11.25 April 1, tracking ahead of CPI:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-minimum-wage-cpi-1.3996209
- Letter: PEI’s minimum wage increase “another pittance” and inadequate:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/letter-to-the-editor/2017/3/2/letter–wage-increase-not-adequate.html - New minimum wage ‘very expensive’ for small business: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-minimum-wage-business-1.3996267
Success stories abundant, money is not for Housing First in Regina:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/saskatchewan/success-stories-abundant-money-is-not-for-housing-first-in-regina-1.4003797
National
Average Canadian worker earned $971 a week at the end of last year:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/average-weekly-earnings-salary-1.3996308
Opinion: Basic income, child benefits best bet to reduce poverty:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/basic-income-child-benefits-best-bet-to-reduce-poverty-415058774.html
CPP enhancements: Understand what’s not changing:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/retirement/retire-planning/cpp-enhancements-understand-whats-not-changing/article34149364/
Health Canada proposing smoking ban in apartments, raising legal age to 21:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/health-canada-proposing-smoking-ban-in-apartments-raising-legal-age-to-21-1.3301124
Trudeau under fire for saying Grassy Narrows is Ontario’s responsibility:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/trudeau-under-fire-for-saying-grassy-narrows-very-much-ontarios-responsibility/article34195382/
- Report suggesting mercury still leaking near Grassy Narrows ‘deeply concerning’, chief says: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grassy-narrows-old-mercury-report-1.4001775
New entrant into NDP leadership race promises basic income:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/guy-caron-ndp-leadership-1.4000796
- Opinion: Guaranteed Basic Income on verge of takeoff in Canada: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/03/02/Guaranteed-Basic-Income-Canada/
Canada’s inflation rate in January rises to 2.1%, fuelled by gas prices:
http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/canada-s-inflation-rate-in-january-rises-to-2-1-fuelled-by-gas-prices-1.3299635
New law won’t stop Canada being used for money laundering and tax evasion, critics say:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/02/28/new-law-wont-stop-canada-being-used-for-money-laundering-tax-evasion-critics-say.html
What Facebook and Google don’t get about Canada’s digital tax proposal:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/what-facebook-and-google-dont-get-about-canadas-digital-tax-proposal/article34166694/
Economic optimism riding high, but Bank of Canada biding time on rates:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economic-insight/optimism-over-gdp-results-unlikely-to-move-bank-of-canada-on-interest-rates/article34138768/
International
Unconditional Basic Income is a dead end:
https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/03/unconditional-basic-income-is-a-dead-end/
Plight of Asian-American day labourers living in poverty in Flushing, Queens:
http://abc7ny.com/society/plight-of-asian-american-day-laborers-living-in-poverty-in-queens/1777720/
US president says welfare reform is coming:
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/trump-says-welfare-reform-is-coming/497211570
Calais mayor bans distribution of food to migrants:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/02/calais-mayor-bans-distribution-of-food-to-migrants
German poverty hits record high despite low unemployment:
https://www.thelocal.de/20170303/german-poverty-hits-record-high-despite-low-unemployment
Child poverty rate to hit 30% in Britain after Brexit:
http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/02/news/economy/child-poverty-brexit-uk/
Welfare funds must serve “really disabled” people, says UK MP:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/26/welfare-funds-must-serve-really-disabled
Theresa May’s welfare cuts will drive another million children into poverty:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-ifs-idUKKBN169007
Campaign launched to alert low-paid UK workers of their national minimum wage rights:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/campaign-launched-alert-low-paid-9925868