‘Time and punishment’ now Canada’s way
May. 18, 2012
Corrections – the idea that those in prison might be assisted while incarcerated to be better prepared for life outside jail – is apparently foreign to the Harper government. Instead, it wants to put more people away for longer, then, figuratively speaking, throw away the key. Punishment is in; correction is out. Just when you think this government’s criminal justice policies, which have been almost universally denounced by experts in the field, can’t get worse, they do.
Tags: corrections, crime prevention, ideology
Posted in Child & Family Debates | No Comments »
Shrugging off Canada’s competitiveness shortfall
May. 18, 2012
There is very little that can be done about Canada’s gaping competitiveness shortfall. Almost three-quarters of the gap is due to the soaring loonie, which is out of our control… Could Canadian workers be the problem? Again, the answer is no. Canada has among the highest rate of postsecondary education graduates in the world, performs well above average (and the United States) in international testing, and has a superior (and more rapidly improving) labour quality than the United States… during periods of high commodity prices, resource-intensive countries like Canada shed competitiveness. But this is paired with no obvious diminishment to well-being,..
Tags: economy, globalization, standard of living
Posted in Employment Delivery System | No Comments »
Doctor-bashing’s not the cure for health-care costs
May. 17, 2012
… everyone behaves as if the competition for resources is a zero-sum game and no one is rewarded for acting in the collective interest. The system virtually guarantees turf wars. As a result, the medical professions resemble medieval guilds – fiercely protectionist, rigidly conservative and jealous of their status and perks… There are lots of cheaper, more effective ways to do health care. But the system is rigged to squash innovation… We spend around 12 per cent of our GDP on health care. Singapore spends around 2.4 per cent. By almost any measure, Singapore has better health-care outcomes than we have.
Tags: budget, Health, ideology, standard of living
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
Update on the class war: 1% winning, 99% regrouping
May. 12, 2012
… there’s far more wealth in Canada today than ever before. Per capita GDP is 50 per cent higher (adjusting for inflation) than 30 years ago. Yet most of that wealth has been transferred to the richest Canadians through tax cuts and government subsidies. Since 1980, the ultra-rich have increased their share of the national income from 8.1 per cent to 13 per cent, a shift of $67-billion. Here’s a strange coincidence. The combined federal and provincial deficits now run at about $65-billion annually.
Tags: economy, featured, ideology, standard of living, tax
Posted in Equality Debates | No Comments »
Charities silenced by the taxman
May. 16, 2012
… in this case, the law gagging charities is most definitely wrong because it infringes on free speech… democracy would be better served if charities had more freedom to advance ideas and to debate issues. Certainly, this would help ensure voters are better informed when it comes to policies… this is something Mr. Harper should already understand. In fact, as a conservative, he should be ideologically opposed to government rules and regulations that only serve to stifle free expression.
Tags: ideology, philanthropy, rights, standard of living, tax
Posted in Inclusion Policy Context | No Comments »
Childhood hunger is a Canadian public health crisis
May. 14, 2012
”We admit proportionately more children from high poverty neighbourhoods to hospital than from other neighbourhoods, and the children from poorer neighbourhoods stay longer at the hospital… childhood hunger – which of course is linked to poverty – has long-term impacts on physical and mental health… “Children who live in food-insecure households are more likely to have growth and developmental problems, be susceptible to illness and perform poorly in school, compared to children who are food-secure.” Adequate nutrition is also a key issue when it comes to mental health among youth.
Tags: disabilities, Health, mental Health, poverty, rights, youth
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
You can talk about efficiency, but you can’t hide the axe
May. 11, 2012
The line is that budget cuts of $4-billion will not affect service to Canadians, but rather can be absorbed by (the following words are in the budget): rationalizing, consolidating, integrating, streamlining, refocusing, reconfiguring, modernizing, realigning and everywhere seeking efficiencies… Doubtless, efficiencies can be found and should be pursued. But there are not $4-billion of them to be found. Only if governments stop doing things can such sums be saved, which is what is happening…
Tags: budget, ideology, participation, standard of living
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Which charities get the most foreign cash? Not those on Tory hit list
May. 10, 2012
The CRA database shows only 1,998 of the 85,000 or so registered charities now active in Canada have reported any foreign income. Most are aid organizations, religious groups or schools. All of their foreign funding over the years amounts to a combined total of $811,467,808… Canadian charities do not have to disclose on their tax returns which foreign groups gave them money. But the recent federal budget promised to impose new penalties on charities that fail to provide full disclosure of funding and activities.
Tags: ideology, philanthropy, rights, tax
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
Canada must actively recruit the best and brightest immigrants
May. 05, 2012
Ottawa must do more to ensure newcomers can convert their foreign credentials and job experience. It must address discrimination in the labour market, and gate-keeping by professional associations. But first and foremost, Canada needs to change its mentality around immigration. It should be designed as much around whom Canada wants, as who wants Canada… Canada must learn to compete. Educated professionals, entrepreneurs, leaders, will not waste their most productive years trying just to get through the door.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, immigration, multiculturalism, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Policy Context | No Comments »
Budget bill gives Conservatives broad power over EI rules
May 3, 2012
The measure is contained inside the budget implementation bill and would give cabinet the power to change employment insurance rules later through regulation without the approval of Parliament… The budget bill contains a small section that allows cabinet through regulation to define “suitable employment.” Ottawa isn’t saying what it has in mind… this and other EI changes in the budget bill – which also include replacing existing appeals bodies with a single “Social Security Tribunal” – are of such significance that they should be studied independently.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, rights, standard of living
Posted in Employment Policy Context | No Comments »
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