Ed. note: Hope you enjoy this long update today – lots has happened in the last two weeks!
Top Stories
Sheila Block blog: What Ontario should expect from the new federal government:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/10/20/quid-pro-quo-what-ontario-should-expect-from-the-new-federal-government/#.ViaY5qw5ayY.facebook
Caledon: Ottawa must get serious about poverty reduction:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/ottawa-must-get-serious-about-poverty-reduction/article27020577/
- Canada Without Poverty: Why do we accept poverty in a nation as rich as Canada?: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2015/10/chew-on-this-why-do-we-accept-poverty-nation-rich-canada
- Poverty ruins health and costs billions: Health Providers Against Poverty, Nova Scotia: http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1317032-poverty-left-untreated-it-ruins-health-and-costs-billions
- Canada needs a child poverty reduction strategy: http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/5962622-canada-needs-to-adopt-a-child-poverty-reduction-strategy/
Roy Romanow Op-Ed: The time has come for universal pharmacare:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/10/29/the-time-has-come-for-universal-pharmacare.html
- Wellesley: What’s next for prescription drug coverage?: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/wellesley-institute/prescription-drug-coverage_b_8401906.html
Ontario sets 10-year deadline to end chronic homelessness:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/29/ontario-sets-10-year-deadline-to-end-homelessness.html
- Response from Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO): http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/-2068642.htm
- Government news release: https://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2015/10/report-of-the-expert-advisory-panel-on-homelessness.html?_ga=1.213318612.1998352270.1408027848
- Report of the Expert Panel: http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=11038
CCPA study: There’s plenty of room to raise taxes on Canada’s wealthiest:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/plenty-of-room-to-raise-taxes-paid-by-canadas-wealthiest-study-says/article27023507/
- Here’s the report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/updates/how-much-income-tax-could-canadas-top-1-pay
BC Supreme Court rules people who are homeless in Abbotsford, BC, have a right to public space:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/abbotsford-homeless-court-ruling-1.3281875
- Comment from Pivot Legal Society, who represented the group: http://www.pivotlegal.org/bc_supreme_court_rules_homeless_have_right_to_public_space
- Comment from the BC Civil Liberties Association: http://www.pivotlegal.org/bc_supreme_court_rules_homeless_have_right_to_public_space
Wellesley Institute: The Trans-Pacific Partnership could jeopardize Canadians’ health:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/wellesley-institute/trans-pacific-partnership-health_b_8312976.html
Inflation cools to 1% – but food prices soar by 11%:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/inflation-cools-to-1-in-canada-even-as-food-prices-soar-1.3285348?cmp=rss
- Stapleton Blog: Single people on Ontario Works are the new hunter gatherers: http://openpolicyontario.com/hunter-gatherers-in-toronto-what-a-long-strange-trip-its-been/
- OW and ODSP shelter allowances should increase and reflect market rent rates in Ontario: http://www.lfpress.com/ur/story/1059554
Being poor is too expensive:
http://lifehacker.com/being-poor-is-too-expensive-1736233505
Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff
National Housing Day Assembly for the Right to Housing Nov 20 – full info and registration here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/national-housing-day-in-toronto-the-peoples-assembly-for-the-right-to-housing-registration-19175873554
Report from Canadians for Public Justice: On the Margins: A Glimpse of Poverty in Canada:
http://www.cpj.ca/on-the-margins
New resource from CLEO: Getting Legal Help: A Directory of Legal Clinics in Ontario:
http://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/ontario
Ontario
Ontario releases Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) transition plan:
https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2015/10/ontario-releases-social-assistance-management-system-transition-plan.html
- Coverage: Cost of problem-plagued system soars to $294 million: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/cost-sams-welfare-payments-1.3283132
- Star Editorial: Ontario government botches rollout of welfare technology: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/10/25/ontario-government-botches-rollout-of-welfare-technology.html
Ontario opens Gathering Rooms at Queen’s Park for traditional Aboriginal ceremonies:
https://news.ontario.ca/maa/en/2015/10/ontarios-gathering-rooms-a-first-for-the-province.html
- CBC coverage: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/ontario-retrofits-two-rooms-for-aboriginal-ceremonies-1.3286378
Financial Accountability Officer says selling Hydro One will leave the province worse off:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/10/29/hydro-one-sale-bad-idea-warns-ontarios-budget-watchdog.html
Local Poverty Reduction Fund announcements:
- Reducing high-school dropout rates for at-risk youth in Belleville: https://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/10/ontario-partners-with-john-howard-society-of-belleville-on-community-based-poverty-solutions.html
- Projects in North Bay for Aboriginal women and people receiving Ontario Works: https://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/10/ontario-invests-in-projects-to-help-north-bay-residents-affected-by-poverty-1.html
- Evaluating the Circles program in Guelph: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/5957386-province-to-provide-138-800-to-evaluate-guelph-poverty-reduction-program/;send=false
Around the Province
New micro-loan program available for OW recipients in Sault Ste. Marie:
http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/details.asp?c=99369
Ottawa’s OC Transpo exploring low-income transit fares:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/oc-transpo-to-explore-low-income-fares
Port Colborne to tackle poverty and health through a new committee:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/10/29/port-colborne-to-tackle-poverty-health-with-new-committee
Hennessy: In 25 years, could good policies make Hamilton inequality free?
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5966140-hamilton-25-years-from-now-inequality-free-/
- Gentrification in Hamilton is changing the inner city: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6034508-affordable-housing-if-boom-means-bust/
Poverty in Toronto a big issue, despite what the election rhetoric said:
http://www.metronews.ca/views/toronto/torys-toronto-matt-elliott/2015/10/18/middle-class-gets-campaign-attention-as-poverty-looms.html
- Toronto set to launch 20-year poverty reduction strategy: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/10/20/toronto-set-to-launch-20-year-anti-poverty-plan.html
- Op-Ed from Board of Trade CEO: Let’s build a city that’s prosperous for all: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/10/26/lets-build-a-city-thats-prosperous-for-all.html
- Star Editorial: Both the province and the feds need to help fix Toronto Community Housing: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/10/18/province-and-feds-need-to-help-fix-community-housing-editorial.html
- Rapping about Toronto’s poor job market: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mohammad-ali-aumeer-raps-about-toronto-job-market-1.2980551
- Toronto OW ID rules will mean low-income immigrants will be forced into homelessness: http://www.voiceonline.com/welfare-id-rules-will-create-homeless-immigrants-say-community-organizations-and-front-line-social-service-providers/
- Plans for LGBTQ rec facility have anti-poverty activists worried about impact on Toronto’s Downtown East: https://nowtoronto.com/news/features/waving-a-rainbow-flag-over-poor-communities/
- Demolition of Toronto’s Seaton House shelter spells jeopardy for people who are homeless: http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2015/10/18/infamous-toronto-shelter-slated-for-demolition.html
Rally in Welland focuses attention on poverty and the need for affordable housing:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/10/17/rally-focuses-on-poverty
New downtown refuge for people who are homeless in Timmins:
http://www.timminspress.com/2015/10/16/new-downtown-refuge-for-timmins-homeless
Advocates in Sarnia ‘Stand Up Against Poverty’ and call for a national housing strategy:
http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/10/16/anti-poverty-advocates-call-for-national-housing-strategy
Across the Country
Homeless census in Moncton:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2295858/homeless-census-aims-to-give-better-understanding-of-homeless-people-in-moncton/
Iqaluit family of six lives in a downtown tent:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/iqaluit-family-living-in-tent-1.3291655
Winnipeg program that pays people who are homeless to clean the streets is full every day:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-program-that-pays-homeless-11-hr-to-clean-streets-full-every-day-1.3291441
Vancouver elementary school program brings parents together:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-elementary-school-program-parents-1.3291808
National
Swift action for refugees urged as deadline looms:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/10/22/swift-action-for-refugees-urged-as-trudeaus-promised-deadline-looms.html
New national coalition pressing for migrant workers’ rights:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/10/28/nannies-migrants-ask-trudeau-to-end-work-permit-limits.html
Experts excited at the prospect of the return of the long form census:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/23/return-of-the-long-form-census-excites-the-experts.html
Canadian Human Rights Commission: Repair the erosion of human rights in Canada:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=1018479&crtr.tp1D=1&_ga=1.8802229.1628755010.1445443251
Harm reduction back on the table:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2015/10/20/harm-reduction-back-on-table-with-trudeau-win.html
Voter turnout was highest in two decades:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/20/canada-voter-turnout_n_8335662.html
Manitoba chief says Stephen Harper “awoke a sleeping giant” in First Nations people:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/election-restores-sense-of-power-in-first-nations-manitoba-chief-says-1.3280118?cmp=abfb
What a Liberal majority means to First Nations:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/what-a-liberal-majority-means-to-first-nations-1.3281061?cmp=rss
Trudeau has huge democratic reform at all levels on his to-do list:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/trudeaus-to-do-list-huge-democratic-reform-at-all-levels/article26883437/?click=sf_globefb
And lots of changes to justice / law-and-order items:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/after-a-decade-long-conservative-reign-whats-on-trudeaus-justice-agenda/article26885833/
International
If the UN, World Bank, and IMF focused on eliminating “Extreme Wealth”:
http://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/swedish-band-the-knife-nail-central-flaw-of-the-uns-sustainable-development-goals/
UN arrives in Scotland to probe “grave violations” of disabled people’s human rights by Tory cuts:
http://m.heraldscotland.com/news/13876881.UN_arrives_in_Scotland_to_probe__grave__violations_of_disabled_people_s_human_rights_by_Tory_welfare_cuts/?ref=fbshr
The next financial crash is coming – and we haven’t even cleaned up from the last one:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/07/next-financial-crash-is-coming-imf-global-stability-report?CMP=share_btn_link
Education doesn’t cure poverty – it cures ignorance:
https://gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/education-does-not-cure-poverty-it-cures-ignorance/
Who are the 1%? It might surprise you:
https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/10/who-are-the-1-the-answer-might-surprise-you/
Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler will pay tens of millions as tax avoidance deals ruled illegal: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/20/starbucks-fiat-chrysler-tax-bill-ec-rule-deal-illegal
The numbers of poor in London, UK, surges 70% in 10 years:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/21/number-of-londons-working-poor-surges-70-in-10-years?CMP=fb_gu
Inside the secretive world of tax-avoidance experts:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/elite-wealth-management/410842/
The myth of welfare’s corrupting influence on the poor:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/10/21/business/the-myth-of-welfares-corrupting-influence-on-the-poor.html
How a Mississippi town resurrected the debtor’s prison:
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/21/mississippi-debtors-prison-poverty-lawsuit