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Media & Policy News: 6 May 2016

May 6, 2016

Top Stories

May Day Op-Ed: Ontario’s labour laws are failing vulnerable workers:
https://m.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/05/01/ontario-labour-laws-failing-vulnerable-workers.html

  • “Migrant Dreams” broken as workers face exploitation on Ontario farms: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-april-28-2016-1.3556704/migrant-dreams-broken-as-workers-face-exploitation-on-ontario-farms-1.3556769
  • Star Editorial: End the abuse of Chinese food workers: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/04/25/end-abuse-of-chinese-food-workers-editorial.html
  • Tibetan immigrants fight for fair wages and dignity at the Ontario Food Terminal:
    https://nowtoronto.com/news/tibetan-immigrants-fight-for-fair-wages-and-dignity-at-the-ontario-food-terminal/
  • Workers win first contract – but joining a union shouldn’t be this hard: https://twitter.com/OFLabour/status/727562646262820864?lang=en
  • Photos: Migrant mushroom pickers in Canada: https://widerimage.reuters.com/story/migrant-mushroom-pickers-in-canada
  • Video: Pushback on precarious work: http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/pushback-on-precarious-work-1.3513724

New data shows Canada is a class-divided nation:
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2016/05/03/tom-parkin-new-data-shows-that-ours-is-a-class-divided-nation/

  • Block blog: Ontario’s job market remains on pause: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/05/06/ontario-job-market-remains-on-pause/#.VyyiD7tHOIs.facebook

Manitoba Liberals call on federal government to ensure all children – even those without a social insurance number – get access to the new Canada Child Benefit:
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/04/29/libs-call-on-feds-to-make-child-benefit-accessible

BC pledges to raise minimum wage to $10.85, then $11.25 an hour over two years:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-to-boost-minimum-wage-to-10-85-an-hour

WSIB’s handling of medical advice criticized at Thunder Bay rally:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/local/wsib-handling-of-medical-advice-criticized-at-rally/article_6227db50-1340-11e6-9088-d3ea13f330cf.html

CELA blog: Amendments to Ontario’s Cap-and-Trade bill make gains for low-income and vulnerable communities:
http://www.cela.ca/blog/2016-05-03/amendments-cap-and-trade-bill-make-gains-low-income-and-vulnerable-communities

Return of mandatory long-form in 2016 Census “very helpful to ethnic communities”:
http://pridenews.ca/2016/04/29/return-mandatory-long-form-2016-census-considered-helpful-ethnic-communities/

  • Canadians are “completely nerding out” on the long-form Census: https://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/census-so-lit?utm_term=.fll6jMAwWP#.qr0X2p7EGz
  • This Census ticked all the right boxes: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/05/04/for-canucks-this-census-ticked-all-the-right-boxes.html

Broadbent Institute economist says buying a house costs 400 weeks worth of work, twice as much as 1970:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/house-prices-canada-broadbent-1.3567723

  • Here’s the report: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/marclavoie/cost_home_today_double_amount_weeks_labour_time_compared_1970s

 

Ontario

Star Editorial: Fumbling at the top, with Ontario’s costly new welfare case management system:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/05/01/fumbling-at-the-top-editorial.html

  • No one disciplined for welfare-payments system failure that cost $52M to fix: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/05/02/no-one-disciplined-for-sams-failure-that-cost-52m-to-fix-minister-says.html
  • IBM wins $32M government contract despite delivering problem-riddled software: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/ibm-it-contract-sams-ontario-1.3560278
  • Minster defends rehiring IBM: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/sams-ibm-contract-minister-defence-1.3563117
  • SAMS workers’ survey charts decline in service quality for social assistance recipients: http://m.marketwired.com/press-release/sams-workers-survey-charts-decline-service-quality-social-assistance-recipients-2121069.htm
  • OPSEU president calls for removal of Minister: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/cnw/release.html?rkey=20160428C1861&filter=5611
  • Brantford and Brant County want compensation for $600,000 expenses incurred: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2016/05/04/samss-bill-over-600000

Ontario launches public consultation on tenancy act changes:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/04/28/ontario-launches-public-consultation-on-tenancy-act-changes.html

Ontario recovers nearly $140,000 of unpaid wages to interns:
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2016/04/ontario-recovers-thousands-of-dollars-owed-to-interns.html

Energy minister explains why higher electricity rates have just kicked in, again:
http://www.nugget.ca/2016/05/01/energy-minister-explains-why-higher-electricity-rates-have-just-kicked-in-again

 

Events, Campaigns, Reports, and Other Good Things

May 12; Put Food in the Budget Annual Campaign Meeting:
http://www.putfoodinthebudget.ca/annual_campaign_meeting

May 18; CLEO workshop: How can you help your clients when they face a legal issue?:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/may-18-helping-your-clients-find-good-legal-information-scarborough-workshop

May 19; Wellesley Event: Building Healthy Cities: Revenue for good health:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-healthy-cities-revenue-for-good-health-tickets-24653074008

May 24; Canada Without Poverty course: Putting poverty in the “rights” place:
http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/putting-poverty-in-the-rights-place-an-intro-to-economic-social-rights-in-canada-and-bc-tickets-24816778653

Metcalf report: Resilient Neighbourhood Economies: A Foundation’s strategic learning from a three-year investment in local economies:
http://metcalffoundation.com/stories/publications/resilient-neighbourhood-economies-report/

Brookings Institution report: Giving families more income is better preparation for children’s learning than investing in pre-Kindergarten:
http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2016/04/28-family-support-or-school-readiness-whitehurst

Fraser Institute study: Governments in Canada spent more than $25 billion on childcare in 2015:
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/fraser-institute-news-release-governments-canada-spent-more-than-25-billion-on-childcare-2120608.htm

 

Around the Province

Hamilton Council approves new $50M poverty plan:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6528000-council-majority-backs-mayor-s-50-million-poverty-plan/

  • Eisenberger: Poverty program will improve Hamilton: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6519985-eisenberger-poverty-program-will-improve-hamilton/
  • Is poverty the city’s job?: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/city-approves-new-50m-poverty-plan-but-is-poverty-the-city-s-job-1.3566346
  • The Spec: Exploding myths around the poverty battle: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/6530935-the-spectator-s-view-exploding-myths-around-the-poverty-battle/
  • The dial’s been moved with the mayor’s poverty initiative: http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=%E2%80%9CDial+Moved%E2%80%9D+with+Poverty+Initiative&id=334
  • Local Poverty Reduction Fund information session helps Kingston groups apply for funding:
    http://www.thewhig.com/2016/05/02/group-seeks-poverty-fund-grants

Low-income transit pass in Ottawa could cost $1.3 – $3.3 million per year:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/city-hall-blog-potential-cost-of-low-income-oc-transpo-pass-revealed

Manitoulin Legal Clinic gets funding for Injured Worker Initiative:
http://www.manitoulin.ca/2016/05/04/legal-aid-ontario-funds-new-injured-worker-lawyer/

Leading on poverty reduction: Lessons from Scarborough:
http://maytree.com/blog/2016/04/leading-on-poverty-reduction-lessons-from-scarborough/

Ontario Renovates grants available in Cornwall and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry:
http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/News/2016-05-02/article-4516153/Low-income-families-can-apply-for-home-renovation-grants/1

 

Across the Country

Nanaimo homeless camp dismantled with heavy machinery:
http://www.cheknews.ca/nanaimo-homeless-camp-dismantled-with-heavy-machinery-170844/

Advocates criticize BC’s affordable housing plan as doing nothing for those in most need:
http://www.abbynews.com/news/377613211.html?mobile=true

Crackdown on tent city in Surrey, BC leaves people who are homeless feeling like garbage:
http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/377326651.html

City of Vancouver wants public input on what to do about 10,800 empty Vancouver homes:
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/05/public-input-empty-vancouver-homes/

Dying outside: Being homeless in La Ronge, Saskatchewan can kill you:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/how-many-people-do-we-have-to-lose

Report: Families are increasingly becoming the face of Ottawa’s homeless population:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-homeless-report-2015-1.3552579

Newfoundland and Labrador anti-poverty advocate says online benefits calculator misleading:
http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2016-05-03/article-4517036/Budget-anti-poverty-calculator-is-misleading%3A-poverty-advocate/1

Cuts to BC’s car insurance benefits: Not sexy, but about social justice:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/reasonable-doubt-why-cuts-to-insurance-benefits-are-a-social-justice-issue/

Prince George, BC, may join the call for a provincial poverty plan:
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/local-news/p-g-may-join-call-for-provincial-poverty-plan-1.2248449

Ten things to know about Alberta’s recent budget – including the new Alberta Child Benefit, but no increase to social assistance benefits:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/progressive-economics-forum/2016/05/ten-things-to-know-about-2016-alberta-budget

PEI denies social assistance to man caring for woman with multiple sclerosis:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-social-assistance-denied-1.3566425

Medicine Hat letter to the editor: We don’t need a return to the Dark Ages:
http://medicinehatnews.com/commentary/letters-to-the-editor/2016/04/29/dont-need-canada-to-return-to-the-dark-ages/

 

National

Canadians put $40 billion in tax havens last year:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/04/27/canadians-put-40-billion-in-tax-havens-last-year.html

  • Politician overseeing Panama Papers has a tax haven connection: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/news/politician-overseeing-panama-papers-file-has-tax-haven-connection
  • Interview with ED of Canadians for Tax Fairness: http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/675115075868

Four more regions close to receiving expanded EI benefits, Ottawa says:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/four-more-regions-close-to-receiving-expanded-ei-benefits-ottawa-says/article29794307/

Canadian shelters forced to turn away majority of women and children in need:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadian-shelters-forced-to-turn-away-majority-of-women-and-children-in-need/article29779517/

Six countries that believe access to the internet is a basic human right:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/did-you-know.php

MacKenzie Blog: Zombie ideas on pension reform rise again:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/05/05/zombie-ideas-on-pension-reform-rise-again/#.Vyt6UCb0GDg.facebook

CRA mistakenly declares woman dead, cuts off CPP and OAS:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2675815/canada-revenue-agency-mistakenly-declares-woman-dead-cuts-off-her-pensions/

 

International

Making poverty history didn’t happen. We should have been tackling the problem of the rich:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/29/making-poverty-history-didnt-happen-tackling-rich

Donald Trump insists that wages are “too high”:
http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/11/11/donald-trump-insists-that-wages-are-too-high/?_r=1

The anti-poverty experiment that could fix America’s broken welfare system:
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/first-universal-basic-income-experiment.html#

Unicef: Half of Mexican children live in poverty:
https://panampost.com/elena-toledo/2016/04/29/67155/

Carbon tax compensation dropped for new recipients of UK’s social assistance programs:
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/03/new-welfare-recipients-to-get-less-as-carbon-tax-compensation-dropped

UK’s universal credit welfare reform has “serious flaws”:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-welfare-reform-has-serious-flaws-a7011206.html

Indigenous Australian elders reject “unfair social experiment”:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-04/geraldton-indigenous-elders-reject-cashless-welfare-card-trial/7383366

Advocates slam “unconscionable” cuts to unemployment payments in Australia budget:
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/05/03/20/06/welfare-dependants-target-of-budget-plan

Italian court rules that stealing food if you’re poor and hungry is not a crime:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/stealing-food-if-you-are-poor-and-hungry-is-not-a-crime-italian-court-rules-a7011631.html

Germany to withhold welfare from foreign EU nationals:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/germany-to-withhold-welfare-from-foreign-eu-nationals-1.2628492

Varoufakis: Basic income is an essential approach for social democracy:
http://www.basicincome.org/news/2016/04/basic-income-essential-approach-varoufakis/

Is universal basic income too simplistic to meet housing need?:
http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/apr/26/universal-basic-income-housing-rent?CMP=share_btn_link

Is poverty a medical illness? Identifying the true cause of death:
http://yourhub.denverpost.com/blog/2016/04/your-voice-is-poverty-a-medical-illness-identifying-the-true-cause-of-death/144227/

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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.