Top Stories
MCSS making big changes to the ODSP medical review process:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/medicalReviewODSP.aspx
Federal Minister eyeing guaranteed minimum income to tackle poverty:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/guaranteed-income-has-merit-as-a-national-policy-minister-says/article28588670/
- Op-Ed: Time for another look at guaranteed annual income: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/time-for-another-look-at-a-guaranteed-annual-income/article28439737/
Ontario budget touted for March 3 or March 10:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/01/23/winter-budget-looms-for-ontario.html
- OPSEU says government is “out-of-touch” with Ontarians on budget priorities: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/liberals-out-of-touch-with-ontarians-on-budget-priorities-opseus-thomas-says-567251251.html
Federal Ombudsman’s report looks at problems in CPP-D:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/auditor-general-report-shared-services-1.3429861?cmp=rss
- Here’s the report: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/docs/parl_oag_201511_06_e.pdf
- Belleville lawyer has seen the system “go from bad to worse”: http://www.intelligencer.ca/2016/02/02/agonizing-wait-for-disability-pension-benefits
- Dying Canadians are missing out on vital disability payments: http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/02/02/news/dying-canadians-missing-out-vital-disability-payments
- Benefits appeals too long and too arduous: http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6259269-auditor-benefits-appeals-too-long-arduous/
- No end in sight for “spike unit” dealing with appeal backlog: http://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/other-pensions/no-end-in-sight-for-spike-unit-helping-social-security-tribunal-76502
Ontario Energy Board issues alert of possible phone scam on Ontario Electricity Support Program:
http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/oeb/_Documents/Press%20Releases/news_release_OESP_Consumer_Alert_20160127.pdf
- Help Centre in Cobourg says there’s no requirement for a home visit: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2016/02/02/help-centre-warns-of-hydro-scam
ACORN Canada pushes CRTC for low-income affordable internet program:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/02/anti-poverty-advocates-call-for-affordable-internet.html
Op-Ed: TPP threatens to worsen inequality:
https://www.hilltimes.com/opinion-piece/legislation/2016/02/02/tpp-threatens-to-worsen-inequality/45120
- Canadian unions tell government the TPP threatens jobs, food safety and more: http://canadianlabour.ca/news/news-archive/canadian-unions-tell-government-tpp-threatens-jobs-food-safety-and-more
- Angus Reid survey: Half of Canadians uncertain about TPP: http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f7dda22184bee7fac707500ef&id=5fc1a70c61&e=9e305f90ee
Ontario
More on labour groups’ call for Ombudsman to investigate WSIB practices: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/labour-groups-call-for-ontario-ombudsman-to-probe-wsib-practices-1.2757087
- OFL, injured workers and medical professionals official request to the Ombudsman: http://ofl.ca/index.php/ombuds2016/
- WSIB says they give “quality service”: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/29/injured-workers-receive-quality-service-compensation-board-claims.html
Paid sick days for a fairer and healthier Ontario:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6259946-paid-sick-days-for-a-fairer-and-healthier-ontario/
Aboriginal graduates help peers embrace post-secondary education:
http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2016/02/02/aboriginal-grads-join-push-to-help-peers-embrace-higher-learning.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things
Save the Date: Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) Annual Conference March 23 in Toronto:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/save-date-lien-annual-conference-march-23-2016
Upcoming online training on campaigning to build social movements:
http://socialmovementtechnologies.org/upcoming-online-training
Angus Reid: Most Canadians are pretty happy, but those who aren’t happy are miserable – note how satisfied “The Unhappy” are with “material satisfaction”:
http://angusreid.org/life-satisfaction/
Angus Reid: Nearly half of Canadians want Ottawa to stick with $10 billion deficit plan:
http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f7dda22184bee7fac707500ef&id=ac718437e0&e=9e305f90ee
Report shows prison-based needle and syringe programs reduce astronomically high HIV and Hep C infection rates:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/03/prison-needle-programs-touted-to-reduce-hiv-and-hep-c.html
Around the Province
Star editorial: Toronto’s chronic underfunding gets worse with virtually nothing for poverty reduction:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/02/01/torontos-chronic-underfunding-just-gets-worse-editorial.html
How supportive housing rescued one man who was homeless in Toronto:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/health/health-headlines/how-supportive-housing-rescued-one-homeless-man-1.2751852
Stand Up for Steel brings thousands to Hamilton city hall:
http://www.900chml.com/2016/01/30/stand-up-for-steel-rally-brings-thousands-to-hamilton-city-hall/
Thunder Bay legal clinic lawyer gets kudos for responsive advocacy:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/opinion/remarkable-performance-not-taught-in-law-school/article_a9306c1c-c8f2-11e5-acb1-430c11719aa1.html
Waterloo advocates question delay in report on free bus passes for low-income residents:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6260504-delayed-report-on-free-bus-passes-for-low-income-residents-irks-advocates/
Fenelon Falls Kawartha Missions reaching out to help First Nations people on reserve:
http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6259645-fenelon-falls-kawartha-missions-focuses-on-appalling-poverty-on-first-nations-reserves/
Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster gets OW training contract from City of Peterborough:
http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/6257745-innovation-cluster-gets-ontario-works-training-program-contract-from-the-city-of-peterborough/
Across the Country
Op-ed: Quebec’s welfare reform bill is aiming at the wrong target:
http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-quebecs-welfare-reform-bill-is-aiming-at-the-wrong-target
Maytree: Edmonton and Toronto launch bold poverty reduction strategies:
http://maytree.com/blog/2016/01/a-tale-of-two-cities-edmonton-and-toronto-launch-bold-poverty-reduction-strategies/
New Brunswick budget hikes the HST and cuts the bureaucracy:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/roger-melanson-provincial-budget-hst-1.3430148
- Social justice group says HST hike will burden the poor: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/budget-poverty-social-justice-1.3431687
Vancouver offers up city land in pitch for new affordable housing funding:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/vancouver-offers-city-land-in-bid-for-social-housing-cash-from-ottawa/article28503349/
Injunction filed to stop BC from deducting $20 from methadone patients’ social assistance cheques:
http://www.straight.com/news/629451/legal-action-seeks-end-welfare-deductions-bc-methadone-patients
- Background on class-action lawsuit: http://www.straight.com/news/571721/methadone-patient-alleges-discrimination-and-targets-bc-government-class-action-lawsuit
City of Calgary bylaw officers urge permits on volunteers providing meals to people who are homeless:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/bylaw-officers-visit-group-who-gives-warm-food-to-homeless-calgarians
- Community steps up to help the volunteers: http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/community-steps-up-to-support-group-feeding-homeless
National
Beyond cauliflower: Poverty and Canada’s food system:
http://www.cpj.ca/beyond-cauliflower-poverty-and-canada-s-food-system
Canadian economy shows signs of life:
http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6254666-canadian-economy-shows-sign-of-life/
Prime Minister says Canada will “modernize” Employment Insurance to “be there” for Albertans:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/02/01/prime-minister-trudeau-liberals-will-be-there-for-alberta
- Minister says EI changes will come “soon”: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/changes-to-employment-insurance-soon-says-minister
- EI relief not likely to come before federal budget: http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/ei-relief-for-laid-off-alberta-workers-not-likely-to-come-before-federal-budget-employment-minister
CD Howe Institute says EI should be changed as only half of Canadians are covered:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/02/boost-workers-skills-tweak-employment-insurance-to-help-workforce-report_n_9137278.html?ncid=tweetlnkcahpmg00000002
- EI needs to “keep up with changing times”: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/jobs/canadas-labour-market-not-keeping-up-with-changing-times-report-says/article28494862/
Ottawa used technicality to disqualify 1000 residential school claims:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-used-technicality-to-disqualify-1000-residential-school-claims/article28529588/
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board seeks info on climate change risks:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/6258174-canada-pension-plan-seeks-climate-change-info/
Canada’s media crisis: “It’s a joke to think a healthy democracy can be restored given the continuing depletion of the one industry that holds business and government to account”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/canadas-media-a-crisis-that-cries-out-for-a-public-inquiry/article28494689/
- “News poverty” can harm democracy and communities: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/news-poverty-local-1.3430069
International
European Union ready to scrutinise UK-Google tax deal in tax avoidance crackdown:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/28/eu-ready-scrutinise-uk-google-tax-deal-avoidance-crackdown
Stanford study shows US is “dead last” on poverty and inequality measures:
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2016/february/poverty-report-grusky-020216.html
US policy proponents on both the left and right finding alignment on poverty proposals:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/03/business/finding-common-political-ground-on-poverty.html
Australia government hiring private companies track down welfare fraud by monitoring social media:
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/03/government-monitoring-social-media-accounts-to-hunt-down-welfare
How about matching welfare recipients to jobs in the “gig economy”? asks former US congressional staffer:
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/02/02/can-the-growing-gig-economy-reboot-welfare.html