Top Stories
Ontario ends onerous reviews for disabled people on welfare:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/05/ontario-ends-onerous-reviews-for-disabled-people-on-welfare.html
- ISAC: New ODSP medical reviews start this month: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/new-odsp-medical-reviews-start-this-month/
- Ministry of Community and Social Services update: http://mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/odsp/income_support/odsp_medical.aspx
Advocate says Ontario’s social assistance programs need to do more:
http://www.contextwithlornadueck.com/2017/03/30/poverty-advocate-john-deacon/
Toronto’s ‘gig economy’ fueled by young workers starved for choice:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/07/torontos-gig-economy-fueled-by-young-workers-starved-for-choice.html
- Sharing economy workers tend to be young, well-educated, finds survey:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/toronto-sharing-economy-study-1.4058447 - CCPA Report: “Sharing economy” work in the GTA is more than just a gig: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/%E2%80%9Csharing-economy%E2%80%9D-work-gta
Business group discovers being good is good for business:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/04/04/business-group-discovers-being-good-is-good-for-business.html
- Better Way Alliance: http://betterwayalliance.ca/
- The role of business in poverty reduction:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7220084-the-role-of-business-in-poverty-reduction/
Conference Board of Canada says Canada needs to lower poverty and inequality:
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2017/04/05/canada-needs-to-lower-poverty-inequality-says-think-tank/
Hard at Work: How do students live on unpaid internships?:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/hard-at-work-internships-students-1.4045672
- Big changes considered for Ontario workplaces: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-changing-workplaces-review-labour-law-1.3994571
- Minister says report on workplace rules is “4 to 6 weeks away”: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/labour-minister-dwight-drummond-1.4049378
- Cornwall lawyer advocating for taxi driver protections under Employment Standards Act: http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2017/04/05/cornwall-community-police-service-board-asked-to-look-at-taxi-industry
Ontario Liberals reject fast-tracking of rent control bill:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rent-control-1991-loophole-ndp-bill-1.4058260
- Soaring rents may expose flaws in longtime economic theory: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/home-prices-economic-theory-1.4054764
Hamilton pitches $50 million spending plan to fight poverty:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7217473-hamilton-pitches-50-million-spending-plan-to-fight-poverty/
- Council shifts $50 million anti-poverty plan into an affordable housing initiative: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7228007-council-shifts-50m-anti-poverty-plan-into-an-affordable-housing-initiative/
- Hamilton politicians approve “historic” poverty strategy to invest $50 million into affordable housing: https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/7228498-hamilton-politicians-approve-historic-poverty-strategy-to-invest-50-million-into-affordable-housing/
What homelessness looks like for women in Canada:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/what-homelessness-looks-like-for-women-in-canada/article34482334/
April 1 marked 10 years since welfare rates were raised in BC:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/today-marks-10-years-since-welfare-rates-were-raised-in-b-c-1.4051490
- Time to raise welfare rates: Debunking the BC government’s sorry excuses for inaction: http://www.policynote.ca/time-to-raise-welfare-rates/
- Decade of frozen welfare rates leave families in deepening poverty: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/03/30/Frozen-Welfare-Families-Poverty/
- Ten year welfare rate freeze hurts BC: Report: http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/04/03/10-year-welfare-rate-freeze-hurts-british-columbia.html
Alberta government announces additional $25-a-day daycare spots across 22 centres:
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/premier-notley-set-to-unveil-centres-picked-for-affordable-daycare-program
Calgary’s unique $5.05 monthly bus pass for city’s poorest now available:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgarys-unique-5-05-monthly-bus-pass-for-citys-poorest-now-available
More on the federal budget:
- First Nations housing advocate says federal budget ‘disappointing’: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/first-nations-housing-advocate-says-federal-budget-disappointing-1.4039314
- For future gender budgets, we need good data at the intersections: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/angellamacewen/gender_budgets_good_data
Canada added 19,400 jobs in March, unemployment up slightly:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/jobs-statistics-canada-march-2017-1.4060044
Ontario
Olive: How we implement basic income will define our future:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/03/24/how-we-implement-basic-income-will-define-our-future-olive.html
- Basic income a complex issue, summit hears: https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-hamilton-spectator/20170407/281578060517349
Private dental care fails millions in Ontario:
http://www.troymedia.com/2017/04/05/private-dental-care-fails-millions-in-ontario/
Ontario’s economy is second worst for young people. But it’s the worst on one thing:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3360458/ontario-economy-young-people-generation-squeeze/
NDP bill would allow unmarried parents to seek support for disabled adult children:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/30/ndp-bill-would-allow-unmarried-parents-to-seek-support-for-disabled-adult-children.html
NDP bill to make it easier to join a union will help Ontario workers, says OFL:
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/ondp-bill-to-make-it-easier-to-join-a-union-will-help-ontario-workers-says-ofl-2207763.htm
NDP MPP wants gender lens applied to the Ontario budget:
http://torontoist.com/2017/04/cheri-dinovo-wants-gender-lens-applied-ontario-budget/
Crown Ward class action lawsuit certified by the courts:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/court-gives-green-light-and-certifies-crown-ward-class-action-against-the-province-of-ontario-617784393.html
Government release: Province announces employment and modernization fund projects for adults with developmental disabilities:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=d404ae37d73eb59e125333262&id=3706964d76&e=0618ef477d
Liberals could win as few as seven seats in 2018 election: Poll:
https://www.cp24.com/news/liberals-could-win-as-few-as-seven-seats-in-2018-election-poll-1.3348908
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Tax Preparation Clinics in Ontario:
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/vlntr/clncs/on-eng.html
April 13 webinar: Who is vulnerable to household food insecurity and what does this mean for policy and practice?:
http://proof.utoronto.ca/upcoming-webinar-who-is-vulnerable-to-household-food-insecurity-and-what-does-this-mean-for-policy-and-practice-april-13/
April 13 event, Toronto: Leap Manifesto: Public Debate on Basic Income:
https://leapmanifesto.org/event/toronto-on-public-debate-on-basic-income/
Homeless Hub Newsletter: Youth Without Home:
http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=61233be4a0bcc87d8977b631e&id=113359821e&e=6da7d6f883
Stats Can: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, January 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170331/dq170331b-eng.htm
Stats Can: Labour force survey, March 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170407/dq170407a-eng.htm
April Newsletter: Canadian Doctors for Medicare:
http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e170feda454bf1510d78b5ae7&id=6a9569ff72
Consumer Alert: What you need to know when getting help to pay off your debt or repair your credit:
https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/debt/debt-help/alert-debt-credit-repair.html
Around the Province
Local Hamilton business leaders seek to make a difference:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7225041-local-business-leaders-seek-to-make-a-difference/
Residents of Toronto Community Housing to shape its future: City considers independent corporation:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/toronto-community-housing-1.4054116
Toronto Mayor’s roundtable less about affordable housing, more about real estate as low-income advocates not invited:
http://torontoist.com/2017/04/mayors-roundtable-less-affordable-housing-real-estate/
- What’s driving Toronto house prices through the roof?: http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1457013-whats-driving-toronto-house-prices-through-the-roof-experts-weigh-in
Special committee meeting hears from frustrated tenants, experts in Toronto:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/no-fixed-address-special-committee-meeting-hears-from-frustrated-tenants-experts-1.4053860
One year later, Toronto health officials still battling strep outbreak at men’s shelter:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/30/a-year-later-health-officials-still-battling-strep-outbreak-at-mens-shelter.html
Northeastern Ontario a hotbed for bad health:
http://www.saultstar.com/2017/04/03/northeastern-ontario-a-hotbed-for-bad-health
Across the Country
Reporting on poverty in PEI:
- Social assistance turned me away when I needed it most: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/5/teresa-wright–social-assistance-turned-me-away-when-i-needed-it.html
- Charlottetown woman goes on social assistance to raise grandchildren: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/6/charlottetown-woman-goes-on-social-assistance-to-raise-grandchil.html
- Islanders in poverty say PEI supports, programs don’t go far enough: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/5/islanders-in-poverty-say-p-e-i–supports–programs-don-t-go-far-.html
- Trying to break the cycle of poverty in a family: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/6/working-to-break-the-cycle-the-poverty-in-a-family.html
- Being poor in today’s society: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/2017/4/6/chris-clay–being-poor-in-todays-society.html
- Root of the problem: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/6/community-groups-in-p-e-i–see-different-causes-for-people-livin.html
- A disability means poverty: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/letter-to-the-editor/2017/4/6/letter–a-disability-means-poverty.html
- Poverty dominates agenda at PEI legislature Thursday: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/2017/4/6/poverty-dominates-agenda-at-the-p-e-i–legislature-thursday.html
- Mundy says PEI government developing poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/elections-2015/2017/4/5/mundy-says-p-e-i–government-developing-poverty-reduction-strate.html - Why are social assistance mileage rates half what PEI MLAs receive?: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/social-assistance-mileage-pei-1.4059459
Articles from BC:
- Jean Swanson: Homelessness in BC a problem that just keeps growing: http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/jean-swanson-homelessness-a-problem-that-just-keeps-growing-and-growing
- BC’s working poor: Education essential to better opportunities: http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-s-working-poor-education-essential-to-better-opportunities
- BC’s working poor: Reducing poverty is expensive but possible: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/b-c-s-working-poor-reducing-poverty-expensive-but-possible-1.13758661
- Thousands of low-income housing units in BC at risk to convert to market rental: http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/04/04/thousands-of-low-income-housing-units-to-convert-to-rental.html
- CCPA-BC study: Many BC seniors are living in poverty: https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Provincial/17/04/06/Many_B_C_seniors_are_living_in_poverty/
- Mincome is pro-health and against poverty: http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/trevor-hancock-mincome-is-pro-health-and-against-poverty-1.14103500
Minimum wage increases in the Maritimes:
- Minimum wage in Nova Scotia increases by 15 cents: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-minimum-wage-2017-1.4051364
- Minimum wage in New Brunswick goes up 35 cents: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/minimum-wage-increase-hike-nb-1.4050563
- Modest minimum wage raises has many Maritime workers wanting more:
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/modest-minimum-wage-raise-has-many-maritime-workers-wanting-more-1.3350737
PEI wages falling against Canadian average:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-average-weekly-wages-1.4052512
Nova Scotia Food banks: We cannot feed our way out of this crisis, but maybe couponing will help: https://nsadvocate.org/2017/04/04/food-banks-we-cannot-feed-our-way-out-of-this-crisis-but-maybe-couponing-will-help/
New Brunswick Medical Society launches guide to help doctors assess patient poverty risk:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3361731/medical-society-launches-guide-to-help-doctors-assess-patient-poverty-risk/
MLA alleges discrimination after NB mother denied social assistance:
http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/mla-alleges-discrimination-after-n-b-mother-denied-social-assistance-1.3346568
Quebec government hints at basic income guarantee:
http://basicincome.org/news/2017/03/quebec-canada-governments-hints-at-guaranteed-minimum-income-in-new-budget/
National
Advocates challenge false claims about Canadian refugee income:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/advocates-challenge-false-claims-about-canadian-refugee-income-1.4054240
Indigenous Affairs Minister announces funding for Ontario First Nations children:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/ontario-first-nations-child-families-services-funding-1.4047658
10 things to know about the federal government’s role in poverty reduction:
http://vibrantcanada.ca/blogs/nick-falvo/federal-role-poverty-reduction
With more refugees pouring in, Toronto advocates ringing alarms about federal funding:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/legal-aid-ontario-refugee-funding-1.4052426
Liberals urged to think twice about ‘Seniors’ Price Index’:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberals-urged-to-think-twice-about-seniors-price-index-1.3351294
International
Neoliberalism is killing us: Economic stress as a driver of global depression and suicide:
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/40064-neoliberalism-is-killing-us-economic-stress-as-a-driver-of-global-depression-and-suicide
Once middle class, she hung on as long as she could. Now she and her dogs live in a car in Carlsbad:
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-lopez-carlsbad-senior-20170402-story.html
Rural Americans turn to disability as jobs dry up:
https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2017/04/07/rural-americans-turn-to-disability-as-jobs-dry-up.html
Two child benefits limit could push 200,000 children to poverty, charities say:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/twochild-benefits-limit-could-push-200000-children-to-poverty-charities-say-35598553.html
- Why UK charities are refusing to administer the new Child Tax Credit rape clause:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/jean-swanson-homelessness-a-problem-that-just-keeps-growing-and-growing - Poor families to lose up to 7000 pound a year under Tory welfare cuts: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tory-welfare-cuts-cost-7000-a-year-april-is-the-cruellest-month-farron-osborne-legacy_uk_58e1f926e4b0c777f78874bd
- Poverty in the UK is not a deficit of life skills:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/04/ministers-not-helping-jams-struggling-families
UK’s Centrelink inquiry told “income averaging” creating incorrect welfare debts:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/06/centrelink-inquiry-told-income-averaging-creating-incorrect-welfare-debts
One in five Brits have no pension savings and face retirement poverty:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/3249022/shocking-study-reveals-one-in-five-brits-have-no-pension-savings-while-many-dont-know-how-much-they-already-have/
Australia’s needless rush into power poverty:
http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/australias-needless-rush-into-power-poverty-20170404-gvd3vt
Number of Russians in poverty hits decade high:
https://www.rferl.org/a/recession-sanctions-left-20-million-russians-living-poverty-2016-up-300000-2015/28413387.html