Media & Policy News: 15 December 2017
Here’s the last MPN for 2017. Happy Holidays and see you in the new year! – ed.
Top Stories
Being on social assistance draws more spite than race, colour, gender… but not more than being Muslim: survey:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/12/08/being-on-social-assistance-draws-more-spite-than-race-colour-gender–but-not-more-than-being-muslim-survey.html
ISAC and Steering Committee on Social Assistance feedback submission on “Income Security: A Roadmap for Change”:
http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/our-response-to-a-roadmap-for-change/
The CRA “picks on people who can’t defend themselves,” says single mother battling agency:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cra-regina-saskatchewan-battle-1.4445674
“Absolutely inadequate”: Halifax advocates call for reform of Nova Scotia social assistance:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2017/12/14/absloutely-inadequate-halifax-advocates-call-for-reform-of-nova-scotia-social-assistance.html
Store vouchers instead of cash violate human rights, rules NWT Tribunal:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/vouchers-ruled-discriminatory-1.4444928
Woman wants Ontario to raise $4 HST exemption for prepared food:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/hst-tim-hortons-ontario-jennifer-brown-aitken-1.4442642
WSIB to abolish policy that slashed benefits for thousands:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/15/wsib-to-abolish-policy-that-slashed-benefits-for-thousands.html
Labour Minister dismisses “fear mongering” over minimum wage increase:
https://www.timminstoday.com/around-the-village/labour-minister-dismisses-fear-mongering-over-minimum-wage-increase-786219
Woman who says her employer docked pay for washroom breaks will have human rights hearing:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/05/woman-who-says-her-employer-docked-pay-for-washroom-breaks-will-have-human-rights-hearing.html
Quebec to offer basic income for $84,000 people unable to work:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-proposes-basic-income-poverty-economic-plan-1.4441986
Child care fee hikes outpace inflation with Toronto parents hardest hit:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/12/child-care-fee-hikes-outpace-inflation-with-toronto-parents-hardest-hit.html
Visible minorities feel less safe than other Canadians: Statistics Canada:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/visible-minorities-feel-less-safe-than-other-canadians-statistics-canada
Overcrowded Ontario hospitals “on the brink,” province warned:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/13/overcrowded-ontario-hospitals-on-the-brink-province-warned.html
Ontario
Most mental-health patients don’t get timely psychiatric care in Ontario, study finds:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/most-mental-health-patients-dont-get-timely-psychiatric-care-in-ontario-study-finds/article37285740/?click=sf_globefb
Ontario groups seeking retirement income for all:
http://www.pionline.com/article/20171211/PRINT/171219955/ontario-groups-seeking-retirement-income-for-all
PCs demand apology from Barrie MPP over minimum wage comments:
https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7991509-pcs-demand-apology-from-barrie-mpp-over-minimum-wage-comments/
Horwath to introduce law banning pre-paid hydro meters:
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/horwath-to-intro-law-banning-pre-paid-hydro-meters-788157
Government release: New projects with Indigenous partners to break the cycle of poverty across Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/prs/en/2017/12/new-projects-with-indigenous-partners-to-break-the-cycle-of-poverty-across-ontario.html
Government release: New child care spaces coming to nearly 200 schools across Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/12/new-child-care-spaces-coming-to-nearly-200-schools-across-ontario.html
Government release: Ontario working to build an inclusive and equitable society for all:
https://news.ontario.ca/ard/en/2017/12/ontario-working-to-build-an-inclusive-and-equitable-society-for-all.html
Government release: Creating fairness and opportunity for people in Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/12/creating-fairness-and-opportunity-for-people-in-ontario.html
Election 2018
Elections Ontario invites feedback on accessibility of proposed voting locations for 2018 general election:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/elections-ontario-invites-ontarians-to-provide-feedback-on-accessibility-of-proposed-voting-locations-for-the-2018-general-election-662045963.html
PCs still lag behind Liberals despite launch of new platform:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/12/08/pcs-still-lag-behind-liberals-despite-launch-of-new-platform.html
Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things
Sign the RNAO Petition Campaign: Eliminate the three month OHIP wait:
http://rnao.ca/policy/action-alerts/Eliminate-the-three-month-OHIP-wait
Warning: Fraudulent phone calls claiming to represent Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada:
http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/Eng/NewsNouv/Pages/phone-scamOct017.aspx
Stats Can: Survey of Household Spending 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171213/dq171213b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan
Stats Can: Employment Insurance coverage survey 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171215/dq171215b-eng.htm
What I learned: Question assumptions and listen to the client: Legal rights of migrant sex workers:
http://plelearningexchange.ca/learned-question-assumptions-listen-client/
Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/defining-and-measuring-an-end-to-homelessness?e=6da7d6f883
If someone asks me for legal information, what should I do?
http://plelearningexchange.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2.-Giving-legal-information-October-2017-LATEST.pdf
Around the Province
Thunder Bay injured workers group claims WSIB system deeply flawed:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/group-claims-injured-workers-compensation-system-flawed/article_1c77a718-df57-11e7-b3ac-8fd233213b03.html
Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay gets funding for ID bank:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/program-helps-vulnerable-people-get-id-788338
Toronto Mayor Tory’s dangerous shelter shell game:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/john-tory-dangerous-shelter-shell-game/
Toronto tenant fighting to get back $3,200 after finding cockroaches, mould on move-in day:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tenant-cockroaches-1.4442776
Donated TTC bus in Toronto to offer showers for homeless:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/07/donated-ttc-bus-to-offer-showers-for-homeless.html
Michael’s Story: I wouldn’t have survived without The Scott Mission:
https://www.thestar.com/sponsored_sections/lifestories/2017/12/01/michael-s-story.html
Peterborough shelters struggling to stay clean amid housing crisis:
https://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/7993687-peterborough-shelters-struggling-to-stay-clean-amid-housing-crisis/
Grey Bruce Health Unit backs basic income idea:
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2017/12/15/health-unit-backs-basic-income-idea
Many in Grey Bruce can’t afford healthy food:
http://blackburnnews.com/midwestern-ontario/midwestern-ontario-news/2017/12/07/many-grey-bruce-cant-afford-healthy-food/
Across the Country
Op-Ed: Building a better Halifax for all includes a poverty-free community:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1525756-opinion-building-a-better-halifax-for-all-includes-a-poverty-free-community
Halifax campaign aims to end period stress for low-income women:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-diva-cup-fundraising-menstrual-supplies-1.4427931
Income assistance recipients in Halifax to receive free bus passes:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/poverty-reduction-free-bus-passes-income-assistance-government-1.4447378
Halifax anti-poverty funding targets transit, community groups:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1529336-infographic-halifax-anti-poverty-funding-targets-transit-community-groups
Study finds people with disabilities in New Brunswick living in deep poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/disabled-poverty-study-1.4428859
“You don’t gain, you just exist”: Low wages keeping New Brunswickers from getting ahead:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/net-worths-report-reaction-migrant-worker-1.4442098
Meat from Cape Breton moose cull used to fight poverty in First Nations:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/moose-meat-child-poverty-parks-canada-cape-breton-highlands-cull-1.4440269
PEI receives mostly failing grades on poverty report card:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/news/pei-receives-mostly-failing-grades-on-poverty-report-card-170453/
Workplace injures in Saskatchewan health care system related to insufficient staff levels, unions say:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/workplace-injuries-in-health-care-related-to-insufficient-staff-levels-unions-say
Study links increased demand for Calgary Food Bank with other social assistance needs:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/u-of-c-study-links-increased-demand-for-calgary-food-bank-with-other-social-assistance-needs
Study shows how much responsibility for the poor falls to non-profits:
http://www.660news.com/2017/12/13/new-study-shows-much-responsibility-poor-falls-non-profits/
An epidemic of inequality, with a focus on Alberta:
http://www.parklandinstitute.ca/an_epidemic_of_inequality
BC struggles to warn opioid users after spike in overdose deaths:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-emergency-workers-put-to-the-test-as-wave-of-opioid-overdoses-overwhelms-the-system/article37170256/
BC acts to stop landlords from raising rents based on higher rates in an area:
https://www.straight.com/news/1006241/province-acts-stop-landlords-raising-rents-based-higher-rates-area
New funding to replace mouldy daycare in Ucluelet, BC – in tsunami path:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ucluelet-daycare-funding-replaces-mould-tsunami-risk-1.4445346
Investment in child care would have immediate benefits to BC’s economy, researcher says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/investment-in-child-care-would-have-immediate-benefits-to-b-c-s-economy-researcher-says-1.4444498
How income inequality is reshaping Metro Vancouver:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/how-income-inequality-is-reshaping-metrovancouver/article37196565/
Notorious Vancouver landlords slapped with 500 new building violations by city inspectors:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3913239/notorious-downtown-eastside-landlords-slapped-with-500-new-building-violations-by-city-inspectors/
“Sometimes I can’t eat or drink”: Syrian refugee living in BC faces $10K dental bill:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-december-07-2017-1.4436013/sometimes-i-can-t-drink-or-eat-syrian-refugee-living-in-b-c-faces-10k-dental-bill-1.4436052
Fort Good Hope NWT couple builds their own home in face of housing shortage:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/fort-good-hope-housing-1.4438889
National
Finance ministers to rethink CPP changes, will also look at drop-out clauses and death benefit:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3907942/finance-ministers-meeting/
New round of CPP changes end age restrictions on survivor benefits:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/new-round-of-cpp-changes-end-age-restrictions-on-survivor-benefits
Canadians want Ottawa to ban use of tax havens, poll finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/13/canadians-want-ottawa-to-ban-use-of-tax-havens-poll-finds.html
No movement on scrapping mandatory victims surcharge:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/author/shannon-kari/no-movement-on-scrapping-surcharge-15069/
Prescription drug costs should be fair – not cheap:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/prescription-drug-costs-should-be-fair-not-cheap/article37178981/
Supreme Court Chief Justice McLachlin exits with great sadness and gratitude; new top judge to be named this week:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/12/10/chief-justice-mclachlin-exits-new-top-judge-named-this-week.html
International
US Republican officials say targeting welfare programs will help spur economic growth:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/06/house-republicans-welfare-restrictions-are-needed-for-the-economy-to-grow/?utm_term=.20aa8ef446e7
A journey through a land of extreme poverty: Welcome to America:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/15/america-extreme-poverty-un-special-rapporteur
Alabama has the worst poverty in the developed world, UN official says:
http://www.newsweek.com/alabama-un-poverty-environmental-racism-743601
California minimum wage hike, savings plan will boost retirement incomes, reduce poverty:
http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/12/12/california-minimum-wage-hike-savings-plan-will-boost-retirement-incomes-reduce-poverty/
One in three of Ireland’s children is at risk of poverty or social exclusion:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/one-in-three-of-irelands-children-at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion-graphic-817053.html
Some UK mental health services are telling patients: “If you really wanted to kill yourself, you would have done it”:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mental-health-nhs-suicide-crisis-untrained-staff-high-risk-underfunding-a8110186.html
Indigenous work-for-the-dole scheme in Australia “cannot and should not continue”, Senate committee report warns:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-15/work-for-the-dole-scheme-cannot-continue-report-finds/9261510
New Zealand’s prime minister calls capitalism a “blatant failure” for homelessness and low wages:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-new-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-capitalism-blatant-failure-a8012656.html
World’s richest 0.1% have boosted their wealth by as much as poorest half:
https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/dec/14/world-richest-increased-wealth-same-amount-as-poorest-half?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
100 million people pushed into poverty by health costs in 2010:
http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/chart-100-million-people-pushed-poverty-health-costs-2010
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