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Media & Policy News: 30 June 2017

June 30, 2017

Top Stories

Star editorial: Wynne government should dump cruel panhandling ban:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/06/25/wynne-government-should-dump-cruel-panhandling-ban-editorial.html

Reducing Canada’s workplace gender gap would add $150 billion to GDP:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/29/reducing-canadas-workplace-gender-gap-would-add-150-billion-to_a_23008616/

Calgary outpaces Toronto and Vancouver as Canada’s least-affordable city for low-income residents:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/university-calgary-housing-affordability-analysis-1.4184027

People who are homeless in Montreal falling victim to aggressive strep bacteria causing flesh-eating disease:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3555905/montreal-homeless-falling-victim-to-aggressive-strep-virus-causing-flesh-eating-disease/

Full impact of Ontario’s controversial 25% hydro rate cut to kick in on July 1:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7387835-full-impact-of-ontario-s-controversial-25-per-cent-hydro-rate-cut-to-kick-in-on-canada-day/

All Legal Aid Ontario immigration and refugee services will continue after July 1:
http://legalaid.on.ca/en/news/newsarchive/2017-06-26_refugee-services-will-continue.asp

Delays in implementation of Rental Fairness Act anything but fair, critics say:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rental-fairness-delays-1.4171421

  • Rents in Ontario can be hiked 1.8 per cent in 2018 under new guidelines: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/06/23/rents-in-ontario-can-be-hiked-18-per-cent-in-2018-under-new-guidelines.html

Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot: TVO Video with Hugh Segal: http://tvo.org/video/programs/the-agenda-with-steve-paikin/ontarios-basic-income-pilot

  • The neoliberal writing on the wall: Ontario’s Basic Income experiment: https://recoveryinthebin.org/2017/06/25/the-neoliberal-writing-on-the-wall-ontarios-basic-income-experiment/
  • Can a basic income help Thunder Bay residents struggling with a changing economy?: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/can-a-basic-income-help-thunder-bay-residents-struggling-with-a-changing-economy

Ontario gets it right with move to minimum wage:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/ontario-gets-it-right-with-move-to-higher-minimum-wage/article35499483/

  • Province’s proposed labour reforms, minimum wage increase spark concerns among Durham businesses: https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/7394204-province-s-proposed-labour-reforms-minimum-wage-increase-spark-concerns-among-durham-businesses/
  • Evidence shows immigrants will get fewer jobs as Ontario ratchets up minimum wage to $15: http://business.financialpost.com/opinion/evidence-shows-immigrants-will-get-fewer-jobs-as-ontario-ratchets-up-minimum-wage-to-15/wcm/ad7ed5d3-5a31-4a31-bc7c-63118b088f3a
  • Sun op-ed: Wynne, Brown wrong on $15 minimum wage: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/06/27/wynne-brown-wrong-on-15-minimum-wage
  • Leeds and Grenville council sounds off on minimum wage: https://www.insidebrockville.com/news-story/7388746-leeds-and-grenville-council-sounds-off-on-minimum-wage/
  • Labour Minister says changes needed: http://www.countyweeklynews.ca/2017/06/26/labour-minister-says-changes-needed
  • How the $15 minimum wage can help the Canadian economy: http://hibusiness.ca/2017/06/24/how-the-15-minimum-wage-can-help-the-canadian-economy/

Canada 150 is not a cause for celebration: Ontario Regional Chief Day:
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2017/06/29/canada150-is-not-a-cause-for-celebration-ontario-regional-chief-day/

  • Protest teepee erected outside Parliament: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/protest-teepee-erected-outside-parliament-1.3481362
  • First Nations activists from Winnipeg to blockade TransCanada Highway on Friday: https://redpowermedia.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/first-nations-activists-from-winnipeg-to-blockade-transcanada-highway-on-friday/
  • “Humiliation Day”: July 1 has added meaning for some Chinese-Canadians:
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/humiliation-day-chinese-canadian-head-tax-exclusion-act-july-1-1.4175025
  • Most Canadians feel $500 million for Canada 150 is too much:
    http://globalnews.ca/news/3538958/canada-150-budget-too-much/

Indigenous communities “have to lead” before Ottawa hands over funding, says Trudeau:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3559832/liberals-indigenous-funding-justin-trudeau/

  • Indigenous leaders call out Trudeau over funds for social services: https://www.theglobeandmail.com///news/politics/indigenous-leaders-call-out-trudeau-over-funds-for-social-services/article35496813/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globefb

Street nurse Cathy Crowe, among others, to receive Order of Canada:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/charles-sinclair-myers-order-of-canada-1.4185114

 

Ontario

Northern Ontario First Nation declares state of emergency on youth suicides:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/06/22/northern-ontario-first-nation-declares-state-of-emergency-on-youth-suicides.html

Ontario food banks have changed, but the need for them hasn’t:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/ontario-food-banks-have-changed-but-the-need-for-them-hasnt_a_22530010/

Double-dipping lawyers in Ontario may be a thing of the past:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/06/26/double-dipping-lawyers-in-ontario-may-be-thing-of-the-past.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Caledon Institute: Why core housing need is a poor metric to measure outcomes of Canada’s national housing strategy:
http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/1114ENG.pdf

Maytree: What does the data tell us about rising poverty in Canada?
https://maytree.com/publications/data-tell-us-rising-poverty-canada/

Maytree newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/maytree/maytree-newsletter-april-410291?e=2df3fde692

Mowat Centre: A portable benefits scheme for all Canadian workers:
https://mowatcentre.ca/what-if-you-could-take-it-with-you/

Mowat Centre: Sharing your tax data could be a gift to equality:
https://mowatcentre.ca/many-happy-returns/

Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/caeh17-conference-program?e=6da7d6f883

StatsCan blog: How to measure changes in Canada’s grocery bill:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170623/dq170623h-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Consumer Price Index, May 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170623/dq170623a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, April 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170629/dq170629a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Canada by the numbers:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/dai/smr08/2017/smr08_219_2017

 

Around the Province

Anger is an appropriate response to poverty and death on Toronto streets:
http://torontoist.com/2017/06/anger-appropriate-response-poverty-death-toronto-streets/

Hearing on minimum wage, labour law changes set for Thunder Bay:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/hearing-on-minimum-wage-labour-law-changes-set-for-thunder-bay-654981

Low-income dental plan needs to come sooner, says Porcupine Public Health Unit in Timmins:
http://www.timminspress.com/2017/06/23/low-income-dental-plan-needs-to-come-sooner-says-phu

  • Oral health care coverage needed in Ontario, says Northumberland County council: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2017/06/22/oral-health-care-coverage-needed-in-ontario

Paying living wage boosts morale, productivity, staff retention – Niagara living wage is $17.57:
https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/7392694-paying-living-wage-boosts-morale-productivity-staff-retention/

Hiring people with disabilities helps Niagara companies’ bottom line:
https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/7389252-hiring-people-with-disabilities-helps-companies-bottom-line/

Basic income guarantee urged as Peterborough Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef holds consultations on poverty reduction:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2017/06/29/basic-income-guarantee-urged-as-peterborough-kawartha-mp-maryam-monsef-holds-consultations-on-poverty-reduction

Roundtable in Quinte with MP Adam Vaughan focuses on affordable housing:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2017/06/29/roundtable-focuses-on-affordable-housing

“Pervasive racism” remains outstanding issue from First Nation student deaths inquest:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/inquest-anniversary-1.4178539?cmp=rss

Northeastern Ontario tops provincial, national hospitalization rates:
http://www.nugget.ca/2017/06/26/northeastern-ontario-tops-provincial-national-rates

To protect social housing, sometimes you have to let go:
https://maytree.com/publications/protect-social-housing-sometimes-let-go/?mc_cid=7cf8e836d7&mc_eid=2df3fde692

Toronto Public Library opens more branches on Sundays as part of Poverty Reduction Strategy:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/community-story/7392190-toronto-public-library-opens-more-branches-on-sundays/

Ontario government bulletin: Celebrating new affordable rental housing in Niagara Region:
https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2017/06/celebrating-new-affordable-rental-housing-in-niagara-region.html

Windsor sees nation’s biggest EI beneficiary decline: Stats Can:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/windsor-sees-nations-biggest-ei-beneficiary-decline-statscan

 

Across the Country

How technology puts pressure on BC’s migrant farm workers:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/06/29/Technology-Pressures-BC-Migrant-Farm-Workers/

Compassion of Maple Ridge, BC, food bank questioned:
https://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/compassion-of-maple-ridge-food-bank-questioned/

BC legal aid suspends immigration and refugee services due to lack of funding:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-legal-aid-suspends-immigration-and-refugee-services-due-to-lack-of-funding-1.4181352

Edmonton’s living wage drops to $16.31 an hour: Report:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3565493/edmontons-living-wage-drops-but-still-higher-than-minimum-wage-report/

Saskatchewan relents on cuts to funeral services for the poor:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/saskatchewan-relents-on-cuts-to-funeral-services-for-the-poor-1.3477471

Slight increase to minimum wage set for Saskatchewan this fall:
https://www.westcentralonline.com/local/22628-slight-increase-to-minimum-wage-set-for-sask-this-fall

“They were very persistent”: CBC finds more cash-for-jobs immigration schemes in Saskatchewan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/they-were-very-persistent-cbc-finds-more-cash-for-jobs-immigration-schemes-1.4178067

Manitoba government lowers support for diabetes blood-testing strips:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/province-lowers-support-for-diabetes-blood-testing-strips-431416873.html

Manitoba helps addicts pay for opioid replacement Suboxone:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/suboxone-manitoba-pharmacare-opioids-1.4178035

Fire in belly: Feed Nova Scotia volunteer fuelled by need to correct injustice:
https://www.localxpress.ca/local-news/fire-in-the-belly-feed-nova-scotia-volunteer-fuelled-by-need-to-correct-injustice-655480

Twillingdate, NL workers facing radical changes with fish plant closure:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/retrain-projects-fish-plant-workers-twillingate-1.4181093

  • Plant closure “biggest blow since the cod moratorium”: http://www.lportepilot.ca/news/local/2017/6/22/plant-closure-_biggest-blow-since-the-cod-moratorium–twillingat.html

Guaranteed basic income discussions continue in PEI:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/opinion/columnists/2017/6/23/guaranteed-basic-income-discussions-continue.html

 

National

Sears Canada laid-off employees won’t receive severance packages:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/06/27/sears-canada-severance-layoffs_a_23004338/

  • Battle brewing as Sears Canada confirms no severance pay for staff: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/no-severance-pay-for-sears-canada-staff/article35454179/

Food insecurity as key contributor to poor health and higher costs in Canada:
https://foodtank.com/news/2017/06/researchers-find-food-insecurity-key-contributor-poor-health-higher-costs-canada/

“Immigration continues to be key ingredient to our economic future”: Immigration minister:
https://www.cicnews.com/2017/06/immigration-key-ingredient-economic-future-immigration-minister-069265.html

Latest Hill Times Power & Influence:
http://mailchi.mp/hilltimes/power-influence-summer-2017?e=e23a377433

 

International

Legal aid cuts in the UK have left residents no way to challenge sub-standard housing:
https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2017/jun/26/legal-aid-cuts-sub-standard-housing

UK food bank use set to grow amid rising living costs and dwindling welfare, study finds:
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/29/food-bank-use-growing-rising-living-costs-welfare-cuts-uk-study.html

UK remains most popular place for overseas workers, despite Brexit (Canada is 4th):
http://economia.icaew.com/en/news/june-2017/uk-remains-most-popular-place-to-work-despite-brexit

Number of Britons enduring “persistent” poverty surges by 700,000 in a year, figures show:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britons-persistent-poverty-uk-families-surge-18-per-cent-2016-year-figures-ons-action-statistics-a7810391.html

UK Tory MSP admits benefits rules lead to food bank use:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15367795.Tory_MSP_admits_benefits_rules_lead_to_food_bank_use/

Minimum wage earners in Australia are now taxed a third of their extra income. How did this happen?
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/minimumwage-earners-are-now-taxed-a-third-of-their-extra-income-how-did-this-happen-20170615-gws9xr.html

New Connecticut law will keep people from being jailed just because they’re poor:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/connecticut-bail-reform_us_59382ca2e4b0b13f2c660f04

Dallas Poverty Task Force opposes proposed transit fare increase:
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/DART-Proposed-Fare-Increase-Receives-Push-Back-From-Poverty-Task-Force-431491653.html

Retired football star partners with Koch brothers to fight poverty in Dallas:
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Deion-Sanders-Partners-with-Koch-Brothers-to-Fight-Dallas-Poverty-430578083.html

14 arrested in New Jersey welfare fraud investigation:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/28/new-jersey-arrests-welfare-fraud-investigation/435144001/

A tale of two minimum wage studies in Seattle:
http://www.insidesources.com/tale-two-minimum-wage-studies/

  • Does $15 minimum wage kill jobs? Experts debate Seattle’s results: http://globalnews.ca/news/3559059/minimum-wage-15-seattle/
  • Minimum wage hike drives (lousy) restaurants out of business: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2017/06/28/minimum-wage-hikes-drive-lousy-restaurants-out-of-business/#940b514305f1
  • Carl’s Jr. slapped with $1.45 million fine for failing to pay minimum wage in LA: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/27/carls-jr-slapped-with-1-point-45-million-fine-for-failing-to-pay-minimum-wage-in-l-a.html
  • Ivanka Trump’s shoes – that’s what poverty means, long hours, low pay, abuse:
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2017/06/28/ivanka-trumps-shoes-thats-what-poverty-means-long-hours-low-pay-abuse/#4a526b473b08

US House budget plan delayed again over welfare cuts:
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/339639-house-budget-plan-delayed-again-over-welfare-cuts

  • Conservative House members want to rewrite tax code, overhaul welfare: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/26/conservative-house-members-want-to-rewrite-tax-cod/
  • Republicans focus on food stamps as part of major welfare reform: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-focus-on-food-stamps-as-part-of-major-welfare-reform/article/2626634

Owners of small health-care firms are “preparing for the worst” with US Medicaid changes:
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/29/owners-of-health-care-firms-preparing-for-worst-with-medicaid-aca.html

Why poverty is skyrocketing in the US suburbs:
https://psmag.com/economics/poverty-has-arrived-in-the-suburbs

Love the idea of a universal basic income? Be careful what you wish for:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jun/23/universal-basic-income-ubi-welfare-state

  • Is universal basic income a solution to tech unemployment?: https://singularityhub.com/2017/06/26/is-universal-basic-income-a-solution-to-tech-unemployment/
  • Conservatives, liberals, techies, and social activists all love universal basic income: Has its time come?: http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-ubi-20170625-story.html

Japan’s child poverty rate eases but 1 in 7 children remains poor:
https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan%27s-child-poverty-rate-eases-but-1-in-7-children-remains-poor

Old age poverty risk in Germany on the rise:
http://www.dw.com/en/old-age-poverty-risk-in-germany-on-the-rise/a-39415675

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This site contains general legal information for people in Ontario, Canada. It is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem. ISAC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization. ISAC is funded by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). The funding for this website is also provided by LAO. The views expressed in any of ISAC’s publications (including written, oral, or visual) are the views of the clinic and do not necessarily reflect those of LAO.