Top Stories
Government “truly sorry” for bungled rollout of social assistance computer system:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/05/01/liberal-government-truly-sorry-for-bungled-welfare-system-rollout.html
- Spec coverage: More funds necessary to fix the problems: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5598108-ontario-may-need-to-pay-more-to-fix-welfare-payment-system/
- Final report from the consultant here: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/pwc_final_report.aspx
- Response from OPSEU here: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1529195/jaczek-avoids-responsibility-in-sams-fiasco-opseu
Enforcement blitz finds 83% of workplaces are contravening the Employment Standards Act:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=366e8033fc&e=51059eb750
- Ministry of Labour announcement: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/inspections/blitzresults_vtfw.php
- Part 1 in series on precarious work: Erratic work scheduling is holding Ontario workers hostage: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/05/03/outdated-employment-standards-act-holding-millions-of-ontario-workers-hostage.html
Ontario’s affordable housing wait list hits all-time high:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/05/04/ontarios-affordable-housing-wait-list-hits-record-high.html
- ONPHA’s survey report:http://onpha.on.ca/onpha/web/Policyandresearch/Waiting_lists_2015/Content/PolicyAndResearch/Waiting_Lists_2015/2015_Waiting_Lists_Survey.aspx?hkey=64634a36-b6de-46b2-b76b-39541b2ea497
- Editorial: Toronto should endorse inclusionary zoning: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/05/04/toronto-should-endorse-an-obvious-way-to-boost-affordable-housing-editorial.html
Analysis: $2.7 Billion EI surplus allowed Harper to balance the books; Conservative stakeholders furious:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/2-7b-employment-insurance-surplus-balanced-joe-oliver-s-books-1.3057261
- Carol Goar: Control political manipulation of the fund: http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/5597718-politicians-help-themselves-to-employment-insurance-funds/
Federal Liberals release “Fairness for the Middle Class” plan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/justin-trudeau-plan-taxes-top-1-to-cut-taxes-boost-benefits-for-middle-class-1.3060323
- CCPA analysis shows that under the plan “the richest 5% effectively pay for a reduction in taxes for the next richest 15% with little change for any other families”: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/05/05/liberal-election-platform-shifts-the-chips-for-the-rich-takes-a-pass-on-the-middle-class/
- Tom Walkom’s take: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/05/a-martians-view-of-justin-trudeaus-middle-class-tax-cuts-walkom.html
- Kevin Milligan’s take: http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/let-the-great-family-tax-battle-begin/
Reports, Events, and Other Stuff
John Stapleton / Metcalf Foundation report: The Working Poor in the Toronto Region:
http://metcalffoundation.com/publications-resources/view/the-working-poor-in-the-toronto-region-mapping-working-poverty-in-canadas-richest-city/
Public meetings on poverty coming in Cobourg and Port Hope May 13:
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2015/05/07/public-meetings-on-poverty-in-port-hope-cobourg
Around the Province
Nurses in Toronto understand that improving health means fighting poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/life/nursing/2015/05/07/for-nurses-improving-health-means-fighting-poverty.html
Tenant organizing in Parkdale prevents landlord from gaining significant rent increases:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/akelius-heels/
London Homeless Coalition’s Soup and Bread Day raises public awareness of hunger and homelessness:
http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/5597897-helping-the-public-understand-hunger-homelessness/
Thunder Bay District Social Services Admin Board increases eligibility for Housing Security Fund:
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/370711/DSABB_increases_eligibility_for_Housing_Security_Fund
Across the Country
Nova Scotia minister “burns the most vulnerable” as that province’s budget creates hardships: http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1283930-bernard-burns-most-vulnerable-as-budget-creates-hardships
- Nova Scotians on social assistance losing their bus passes as a result of program reviews: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/community-services-cuts-some-bus-passes-for-people-with-disabilities-1.3061257
- Nova Scotia minister says there are too many people staying on assistance for “too long”: http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotians-staying-on-income-assistance-longer-than-needed-minister-1.2358364
- Analysis: The NS budget should address the question of poverty just as much as the issue of efficiency: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1283959-brighton-province-may-survive-tough-budget
Lunch on a low income in PEI:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/lunch-and-game-highlight-plight-of-p-e-i-s-low-income-families-1.3059758
Quebec cuts welfare payments for those in drug and alcohol rehab centres:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-welfare-cuts-worry-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centres-1.3063151
New Vancouver highrise has two entrances – one for condos and one for social housing:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Vancouver+highrise+have+separate+door+social+housing/11031424/story.html
Opinion: Society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/west-island-gazette/marla-newhook-why-is-it-so-tough-to-accept-that-every-rule-has-an-exception
National
Mowat Centre study on living conditions demonstrates need to reinstate the long-form census:
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/05/07/living-conditions-study-highlights-need-for-long-form-census-researchers-say
Federal government fails to spend nearly $100 million on promised social services programs:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-government-left-97m-unspent-on-social-services-report-shows-1.3063878
New poll shows Canadians support increasing CPP benefits:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadians-support-increasing-cpp-benefits-poll-finds/article24234182/
- Government must double CPP to ensure future security: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Dignity+pensions/11029709/story.html
- Growing number of seniors declaring bankruptcy: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/growing-number-of-seniors-account-for-ontarios-insolvency-filings-study/article24236617/
One-third of Canadians at “high risk” for mental health concerns:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1968323/one-third-of-canadians-at-high-risk-for-mental-health-concerns-poll/
“Bill C-59 gives the Treasury Board minister the power to ignore provisions of the Public Service Labour Relations Act and unilaterally change the terms and conditions of sick leave in the public service and create a new short-term disability program”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservative-budget-bill-sets-up-battle-with-federal-unions/article24309929/
Over 4000 postcards come from across Canada calling for a national anti-poverty plan:
http://cpj.ca/over-4000-postcards-call-anti-poverty-plan
International
US study shows transportation is critical to escaping poverty:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/upshot/transportation-emerges-as-crucial-to-escaping-poverty.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0
New Missouri law aims to get more people on assistance into work, but where are the jobs?
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/28998245/new-mo-welfare-law-promotes-employment-some-say-jobs-unavailable
Irish study shows fuel poverty comes from low incomes, not high fuel costs:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/study-fuel-poverty-reflects-financial-difficulty-not-heating-costs-329347.html
Got a poverty problem? Deal with it by paying people higher wages:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-a-georgescu/fight-poverty-with-wages_b_7220862.html
US study says strengthening the social safety net will help reduce poverty:
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/05/06/Social-Safety-Net-Lifts-48-Million-Out-Poverty
Report highlights “grotesquely disproportionate” impact of UK welfare reform on women:
http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/3316/report-highlights-grotesquely-disproportionate-impact-of-welfare-reform-on-women/
Study says UK welfare cuts will force 2 million people to resort to food banks each year:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/planned-12bn-tory-welfare-cuts-will-lead-to-two-million-a-year-using-food-banks-says-study-10221475.html