Top Stories
December 6
Remember the 14:
http://www.cbc.ca/montreal/features/remember-14/
How are women with disabilities affected by violence that is different from other women?
http://blog.legalaid.on.ca/2017/12/01/how-are-women-with-disabilities-affected-by-violence-that-is-different-from-other-women/
Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre: Violence against older women information session Dec 18:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/sites/all/files/poster-VAOW.pdf
How to get your child and family benefit and credit payments while staying in a transition shelter:
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/news/newsroom/tax-tips/tax-tips-2017/how-get-your-benefit-payments-while-staying-shelter.html
Op-Ed: We all need to step up to stop violence against women:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/opinion-we-all-need-to-step-up-to-stop-violence-against-women-167869/
Government release: Ontario helping survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking access affordable housing:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/sites/all/files/poster-VAOW.pdf
Health and Dental
Overall health includes oral health: Should dental be part of universal health care?
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/filling-in-the-gaps-dental-care-in-canada-a-special-edition-of-the-current-1.4421567/overall-health-includes-oral-health-should-dental-be-part-of-universal-health-care-1.4421599
Panel calls on Ottawa to provide universal pharmacare plan for Canadians:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/panel-calls-on-ottawa-to-provide-universal-pharmacare-plan-for-canadians-1.3191054#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=qdcDpBQ
National Housing Strategy
Activists say Ottawa should deliver housing funds over two years, instead of 11:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/22/activists-say-ottawa-should-deliver-housing-funds-over-two-years-instead-of-11.html
A National Housing Strategy to maintain homelessness for decades to come:
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/11/30/National-Housing-Strategy-Maintain-Homelessness-Decades-Come/
Hulchanski: No, Ottawa has not put forth a national housing strategy:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/no-ottawa-has-not-put-forth-a-national-housing-strategy/article37173057/
Housing plan won’t help middle class, experts say:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/22/housing-plan-wont-help-middle-class-experts-say.html
The housing crisis requires attacking on several fronts:
http://rabble.ca/news/2017/11/housing-crisis-requires-attacking-several-fronts
Government backgrounder: Canada’s national housing strategy:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2017/11/backgrounder_canadasnationalhousingstrategy.html
Homelessness needs to be a priority now, not after the next election:
http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/opinion/homelessness-needs-to-be-a-priority-now-not-after-next-election-166612/
The national housing strategy may be more symbol than substance: https://torontoist.com/2017/12/national-housing-strategy-may-symbol-substance/
Bill 148
Employers need to review policies in wake of Ontario’s labour law changes:
https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/5363/employers-need-to-review-policies-in-wake-of-ontario-s-labour-law-changes-experts
Rising Ontario wages jeopardizing in-home care for Peterborough man:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2017/12/02/rising-ontario-wages-jeopardizing-in-home-care-for-peterborough-man
Ontario small businesses raise prices to cover rise in minimum wage:
http://www.baystreet.ca/economiccommentary/2033/Ontario-Small-Businesses-Raise-Prices-To-Cover-Rise-In-Minimum-Wage
Other Top Stories
Survey of Ottawa rooming house tenants finds many scramble to pay rent:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/survey-of-rooming-house-tenants-finds-many-scramble-to-pay-rent
Activists across Canada demand fair banking for low-income people:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/30/activists-across-canada-demand-fair-banking-for-low-income-people.html
Federal Liberals face funding gap on First Nations water promise: Parliamentary Budget Office:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pbo-indigenous-water-boil-1.4437451
BC announces $33 million to create 3,800 new child-care spaces:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/province-announces-33m-to-create-3-800-new-child-care-spaces-1.4432155
Letter to the Editor: Fight for your due on Sears Canada pensions and benefits:
http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2017/12/05/letters-to-the-editor-dec-6-2017
In wake of Sears bankruptcy, CCPA calls for changes to pension accountability:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3894326/bob-layton-editorial-support-for-the-front-line/
- CCPA report:
Canada’s jobless rate hits lowest since 2008 as hiring spikes:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-adds-79500-jobs-unemployment-rate-falls-to-lowest-since-2008/article37163553/
Federal government to spend millions on increasing take-up of education benefits for low-income families:
https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/canada/2017/12/02/federal-government-to-spend-millions-on-increasing-take-up-of-education-benefits-for-low-income-families.html
Toronto Council votes for new shelter beds, but refuses to open armouries to people who are homeless:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/12/06/council-votes-for-new-shelter-beds-refuses-to-open-armouries-to-the-homeless.html
- Additional shelter beds approved amid emotional debate at City Hall: http://toronto.citynews.ca/2017/12/06/additional-shelter-beds-approved-amid-emotional-debate-city-hall/
Ontario
Auditor General’s report:
Sick days, salaries taking away from kids, auditor says:
http://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ontario-auditor-report-finds-concerns-in-how-money-spent
Report will be last before 2018 election:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/auditor-general-report-ontario-1.4431648
Statement from the Minister of Housing and Responsible for Poverty Reduction:
https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2017/12/statement-from-the-minister-of-housing-and-minister-responsible-for-the-poverty-reduction-strategy-f.html
Other Ontario
How the unconditional basic income changes people’s working habits:
http://www.economicsgazette.com/unconditional-basic-income-changes-people-working-habits.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Dec 20: Premier Wynne takes public Town Hall to Peel Region:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/12/premier-wynne-takes-public-town-hall-to-peel-region.html
Dec 14: Community Forum on Income Security: Toronto:
https://www.facebook.com/events/129832354364656/
HALCO Fact Sheets: Immigration and Citizenship Law updates:
http://www.halco.org/2017/news/immigration-and-citizenship-law-updates
Stats Can Study: Getting your foot in the door: A look at entry level job vacancies in Canada, 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171206/dq171206b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Stats Can: Survey of Financial Security, 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171207/dq171207b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Human Rights Legal Support Centre and Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres present: Defending your human rights in Ontario – what you need to know:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4JD7b7Uce0&feature=youtu.be
Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/yellowknifes-plan-to-end-homelessness-2883409?e=6da7d6f883
Around the Province
London mom says she filled up on water to make sure her son had enough to eat:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-mom-says-she-filled-up-on-water-to-make-sure-her-son-had-enough-to-eat-1.4432036
Making ends meet as a pregnant working student in London:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/making-ends-meet-as-pregnant-working-student-london-ontario-1.4435203
Social Planning Council of Oxford report on predatory lending:
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2017/12/05/a-new-report-by-the-social-planning-council-of-oxford-focuses-on-how-predatory-lending-hurts-those-in-need-sometimes-pushing-them-to-bankruptcy
Facing the financial cost of cancer: An Orillia woman’s struggle:
https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7972264-facing-the-financial-cost-of-cancer-an-orillia-woman-s-struggle/
Peterborough’s River Magazine gives voice to those living in poverty or low income:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3902544/peterboroughs-river-magazine-gives-voice-to-those-living-in-poverty-or-low-income/
Sudbury man claims Ontario city’s bus passes for disabled are discriminatory:
https://www.guelphtoday.com/around-the-village/man-claims-ontario-citys-bus-passes-for-disabled-are-discriminatory-782581
Greater Sudbury eyeing 200 early child-care spaces to help vulnerable kids:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-daycare-child-care-1.4433090
Community need for food bank seen daily by Waterloo Regional Police:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/waterloo-regional-police-chief-bryan-larkin-food-bank-1.4433708
Percentage of North Bay low-income residents above provincial and national averages:
https://www.mynorthbaynow.com/25553/many-communities-nipissing-parry-sound-districts-average-per-cent-low-income-people/
Across the Country
BC employers clash on timeline for $15 minimum wage:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/12/07/employers-clash-timeline-minimum-wage/
- Unifor recommends fast-tracking $15 BC minimum wage: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/unifor-recommends-fast-tracking-15-minimum-wage-661871983.html
Emergency Food Action Network serves community’s food needs in Vernon, BC:
https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/community/food-needs-served-up/
Pricey tampons at Calgary airport show the burden low-income women face:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/12/05/pricey-tampons-calgary-airport_a_23297532/
Meet the developer behind Calgary’s first fully automated apartments for people with disabilities:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/accessible-apartment-capitol-hill-confederation-park-automation-calgary-1.4425466
Saskatchewan government grants 10 days of leave from work to survivors of interpersonal violence:
http://leaderpost.com/news/politics/sask-government-grants-10-days-of-leave-from-work-to-survivors-of-interpersonal-violence
Manitoba must deliver on child-poverty promises:
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/province-must-deliver-on-child-poverty-promises-462227833.html
Struggling to survive on social assistance in Halifax:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1527152-struggling-to-survive-on-social-assistance
Black in Halifax: Guest editor on levelling the playing field:
http://www.metronews.ca/views/halifax/2017/12/03/black-in-halifax-guest-editor-carlos-beals-on-levelling-the-playing-field-for-his-community.html
Why we can’t afford to lose the fight against poverty in Nova Scotia:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/editorials/1527139-editorialwhy-we-can%E2%80%99t-afford-to-lose-the-fight-against-poverty
Halifax to wait-and-see on this whole basic income thing:
https://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites/archives/2017/12/05/halifax-to-wait-and-see-on-this-whole-basic-income-thing
Moncton woman with cerebral palsy says disability benefits rules prevent her from working:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3898100/moncton-woman-with-cerebral-palsy-says-disability-benefits-rules-prevent-her-from-working/
St. John’s pet food bank hoping to fill empty shelves for Christmas:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/heavenly-creatures-pet-food-bank-needs-donations-1.4435488
National
Appeals court strikes down veterans’ disability pension lawsuit:
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/appeals-court-strikes-down-veterans-disability-pension-lawsuit-1.3706216
Liberals plan to reduce permanent resident backlog for caregivers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/03/liberals-plan-to-reduce-permanent-resident-backlog-for-caregivers.html
Small towns to see branch closings, Scotiabank CEO predicts:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/scotiabank-eyeing-small-town-branch-closures-ceo-says/article24926205/
Parental leave rules set to undergo major shift as provinces adjust to EI changes:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/other/parental-leave-rules-set-to-undergo-major-shift-as-provinces-adjust-to-ei-changes-107175
International
Congressional Republicans are laying the groundwork to overhaul welfare programs for the poor:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/06/congressional-republicans-are-laying-the-groundwork-to-overhaul-welfare-programs-for-the-poor/?utm_term=.1c387f0849b9
Australia’s “Fair Work Commission” itself plays a key role in gender pay gap:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/fair-work-commission-contributing-to-gender-pay-gap-20171203-gzxm7r.html
UK anti-poverty adviser quits, says Brexit impeding progress:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/12/03/uk-anti-poverty-adviser-quits-says-brexit-impeding-progress.html
UK government warned over sharp rise in child and pensioner poverty:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/04/uk-government-warned-over-sharp-rise-children-pensioner-poverty-study
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer causes storm with remarks about disabled workers:
http://toronto.citynews.ca/2017/12/06/additional-shelter-beds-approved-amid-emotional-debate-city-hall/
The UK Conservatives are wrong: Having more people working hasn’t reduced poverty:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/child-pension-poverty-rise-joseph-rowntree-foundation-conservative-government-austerity-work-a8093246.html
UK government policies are making social mobility and child poverty even worse:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/07/tory-policies-making-social-mobility-child-poverty-even-worse
Fuel poverty levels in Scotland decrease as energy prices fall:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-42242999
More than a million Australian workers are being ripped off by their employers failing to pay the minimum wage:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5140029/A-MILLION-Australian-workers-ripped-employers.html
Australian Council of Social Services urges Senate to dump cashless welfare drug card:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/08/acoss-urges-senate-to-dump-cashless-welfare-card-program
Australia shelves plans to drug test welfare recipients, citing lack of Senate support:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/federal-government-shelves-plans-to-drug-test-welfare-recipients/9234334
Australian pay gap for women in minimum wage jobs could be down to “simple prejudice”:
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/the-pay-gap-for-women-in-minimum-wage-jobs-could-be-down-to-simple-prejudice/news-story/d59d17cf1e74ab10582da266835fa25e
Irish official admits “Welfare Cheats” campaign was a mistake:
https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2017/1207/925784-welfare-cheats/
We could fund a universal basic income with the data we give away to Facebook and Google:
https://thenextweb.com/artificial-intelligence/2017/12/05/we-could-fund-a-universal-basic-income-with-the-data-we-give-away-to-facebook-and-google/
Young Norwegians with “immigrant background” receive less social assistance:
https://www.tnp.no/norway/panorama/norway-young-norwegians-immigrant-background-social-assistance
Checks for Free: A Mexican plan to combat poverty:
https://www.voanews.com/a/checks-for-free-is-proposal-for-mexican-plan-to-combat-poverty/4152975.html
German Jobcentre concedes that people on welfare can beg… up to a point:
https://www.thelocal.de/20171206/jobcentre-concedes-that-people-on-welfare-can-beg-up-to-a-point