Top Stories
“Contrary to the government’s messaging, all the evidence indicates that the increase of the TFSA contribution limit to $10,000 will benefit only a very small proportion of Canadians,”
http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/tfsa/extra-tfsa-room-offers-little-for-lower-middle-earners-new-study-finds?__lsa=4224-8539
Canadian seniors are going bankrupt in soaring numbers:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/seniors-going-bankrupt-in-soaring-numbers-1.3129176
Ontario government contracts with same temp companies it cites for Employment Standards violations:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/24/ontario-government-spent-millions-on-contracts-with-law-breaking-temp-agencies.html
- Fight for $15 and Fairness campaign on what you can do: http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=5a30f60e34
- Workers rights violations not made public in Ontario: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/06/25/workers-rights-violations-not-made-public-in-ontario.html
Ontario’s “eye popping” shift to low-wage work:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/15/ontarios-eye-popping-shift-to-low-wage-work.html
- Op-Ed: Sheila Block on Ontario’s shift to low-wage work: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5691854-the-quiet-limits-of-ontario-s-precariat/
Star editorial: Campaign to end homelessness deserves support:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/21/support-a-bold-campaign-to-end-homelessness-editorial.html
- Canada’s first Homeless Charter of Rights unveiled in Calgary: http://globalnews.ca/news/2063122/canadas-first-homeless-charter-of-rights-unveiled-in-calgary/
- Right to Housing activists say feds raiding CMHC to balance deficit instead of building 30,000 homes: http://www.thecarillon.com/provincial/Right-to-Housing-to-release-policy-paper-critical-of-Harper-government-309017991.html
City of Hamilton still not out from under SAMS social assistance computer system crisis:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/city-still-doesn-t-know-who-got-incorrect-ow-payments-1.3123422
- Hamilton wants more funds from province for resolution of SAMS problems: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5687261-city-wants-province-to-pony-up-on-sams-costs/
Computer glitch withholds $1.7 million from EI claimants since 2007:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/computer-glitch-withholds-1-7m-in-ei-payments-to-struggling-families-1.3128168
Events, Reports, and Other Good Things
The second edition of Jim Stanford’s “Economics for Everyone” is available now – order here:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/economics-for-everyone
Inter-clinic Migrant Workers Working Group Webinar: Migrant workers and access to social benefits in Ontario
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/migrant-workers-and-access-social-benefits-ontario
CCPA Research Report: The Wealth Advantage: The Growing Wealth Gap Between Canada’s Affluent and the Middle Class:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/wealth-advantage
- Toronto Star coverage: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/24/gap-between-canadas-affluent-and-middle-class-is-growing.html
New IRPP Report: Why More Education Will Not Solve Rising Inequality (and May Make It Worse):
http://irpp.org/research-studies/aots5-foley-green/
Food security and Basic Guaranteed Income a coupled campaign for the federal election this fall:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/06/28/eat-think-vote-campaign-focuses-on-food-policy.html
20 years after his election, CCPA-Ontario looks at The Long Shadow of Mike Harris:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Ontario%20Office/2015/06/OnPolicy_Spring2015.pdf
Ontario
Several investment and consultation announcements from the provincial government:
- Consultation on financial protections – payday loans, cheque cashing, money transfer services and experiences with debt collection agencies:http://news.ontario.ca/mgs/en/2015/06/ontario-launches-consultation-on-new-financial-protections-for-consumers.html
- Investments in Aboriginal post-secondary education: http://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2015/06/ontario-investing-in-aboriginal-postsecondary-education-and-training.html
- Investments in post-secondary education for people with disabilities: http://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2015/06/ontario-increasing-funding-for-postsecondary-students-with-disabilities.html
- Rent increase guideline set at 2.6%: http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2015/06/2016-ontario-rent-increase-guideline.html
Rent increase guideline may have crippling effect on people in poverty in Chatham-Kent:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2015/06/24/lack-of-affordable-housing-matched-to-income-an-issue
Star editorial: Treatment of temp worker fired after speaking out is disgraceful:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/19/treatment-of-temp-worker-is-disgraceful-editorial.html
- City of Toronto steps up enforcement, but the province’s work is lacking: http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=1803596bc8&e=f3bab51a7a
Loblaw demands workers pay back thousands of dollars in compensation overpayments:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/loblaws-demands-workers-pay-back-thousands-after-payment-error-1.3119544
Around the Province
Kitchener activists pitch tent city to protest gentrification and make poverty visible:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/5694534-annual-tent-city-in-victoria-park-makes-downtown-poverty-visible/
Peterborough activists rally for “better than food banks”:
http://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/5687164-peterborough-rally-calls-for-better-than-food-banks-to-help-the-hungry/
McMaster study shows more than half of jobs in Hamilton are insecure:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5692335-more-than-half-of-hamilton-jobs-insecure-study/
Toronto landlord evicts tenants, then goes after them for two months rent for not giving notice:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5688637-toronto-landlord-evicts-tenants-then-pursues-them-for-two-months-rent-for-not-giving-notice/
- Housing Minister McMeekin commits to closing loophole: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/22/ontario-commits-to-closing-eviction-debt-loophole.html
- Edward Keenan on the “calculated bit of cruelty” and “wickedness” of the company involved: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/24/widows-struggle-is-with-moral-deadbeats-keenan.html
- Landlord agrees to forgive eviction debts: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/26/landlord-agrees-to-forgive-eviction-debts.html
Toronto releases TOProsperity, the City’s interim Poverty Reduction Strategy:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/23/toronto-releases-20-year-poverty-busting-plan.html
- Mayor Tory says tackling poverty a “litmus test” for Toronto’s greatness: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/06/23/tackling-poverty-a-litmus-test-for-citys-greatness-tory-says.html
- A link to the plan is here: http://pammcconnell.ca/toprosperity-interim-poverty-reduction-strategy/
- Star Editorial: Toronto must move quickly on poverty reduction: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/23/dont-let-anti-poverty-study-gather-dust-editorial.html
Across the Country
Man who is deaf files human rights complaint against BC ministry over income assistance delays:
http://www.theprovince.com/technology/Deaf+takes+social+development+ministry+Human+Rights+Tribunal+over+delays+income+assistance/11160948/story.html
Homelessness in Edmonton is down overall, but up among youth:
http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/1406707/edmonton-youth-homelessness-spikes-as-overall-homelessness-falls-report/
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson moves motion to make Vancouver a Living Wage employer:
http://www.mayorofvancouver.ca/livingwage
New Brunswick poverty reduction progress report shows improvements, but increase in deep poverty:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2075344/n-b-sees-an-increase-in-deep-poverty-launches-new-plan-for-2019/
- More coverage: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-brunswick-poverty-report-missing-detail-says-social-justice-group-1.3128881
Mi’kmaq leader in Nova Scotia calls for control over social services:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1295352-mi%E2%80%99kmaq-leader-calls-for-control-of-key-social-services
Newfoundland announces three-year plan to improve accessibility for people with disabilities:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/province-announces-plan-to-include-people-with-disabilties-1.3121115
National
Right to Housing Case: Supreme Court slams door shut on Canada`s housing crisis:
https://righttohousing.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/supreme-court-slams-door-shut-on-canadas-housing-crisis/
Threat of recession looming:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/06/30/canada-gdp-april-recession_n_7695408.html
New online process launched for CPP applications:
http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/24761-new-application-process-for-cpp-launched
Harry Smith’s fight to defend the gains of his generation on social and economic justice:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/old-soldier-picks-a-new-fight-with-the-rich/article25042176/
International
UK man with progressive MS told he must attend Job Centre interview:
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Man-walk-talk-feed-told-attend-Job-Centre/story-26738618-detail/story.html
In a better world, spending a lot on welfare would be considered a virtue:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/19/in-a-better-world-spending-a-lot-on-welfare-would-be-considered-a-virtue
David Cameron hopes to reduce child poverty “by changing how it is measured”:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/david-cameron-hopes-lower-child-poverty-by-changing-how-it-measured-1507680
People with disabilities attempt to storm UK Parliament over elimination of Independent Living Fund:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/police-clash-with-disabled-protesters-as-they-try-to-storm-house-of-commons-chamber-during-prime-ministers-questions-10342106.html
US multimillionaire says increasing the minimum wage is “supercharging the economy”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/minimum-wage-increases-are-supercharging-economy-says-u-s-multimillionaire-1.3124917
The First National Church of Self-Help prevents more Americans from protesting inequality:
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_bills/2015/06/new_york_times_op_ed_on_why_the_poor_won_t_rise_up_give_credit_to_our_culture.html?wpsrc=sh_all_dt_fb_ru
Does legal aid reduce poverty?
http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/future-development/posts/2015/06/23-legal-aid-poverty-prettitore