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/