Archive for the ‘Governance Policy Context’ Category

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Canada’s economy can teach the U.S. a thing or two

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

July 11, 2010
… Americans have almost never looked to Canada as a role model. Indeed, during the long, bitter push to revamp the U.S. healthcare system, opponents repeatedly warned that, if we weren’t careful, we could end up with a medical system like Canada’s. But on healthcare, as well as on such critical issues as the deficit, unemployment, immigration and prospering in the global economy, Canada seems to be outperforming the United States. And in doing so, it is offering examples of successful strategies that Americans might consider.

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The problem with markets

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

July 13, 2010
The “culture” that set the limits on public borrowing… was the culture of financial markets, not the vaporous will of the untrustworthy voting public. (ST) / virtually all other political systems that we know of suffer from the same defect [political and economic power in the same hands] (AB) / … Capitalism, not democracy, is the problem… capitalism can generate economic growth. But it can also create persistent problems of inequality, poverty and economic injustice, which in turn cause apathy, discontent and ultimately instability, all of which undermine profits and ultimately the very growth that capitalism is supposed to generate. (JH)

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The disintegration of the welfare state

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

July 11, 2010
… Italy’s debt purchased benefits that weren’t necessary. It paid for early retirement of public-sector workers, for example, and provided these pensioners with incomes much higher than private-sector workers. Now, with revenues falling and costs rising, Italy can avert insolvency only by adopting a constitutional prohibition of deficits, the economists say. This stringent assignment is Mission: Impossible… Democracies have made people more dependent on the state than any humanitarian necessity required.

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Budget 2010: Short on Social Policy

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

April 13, 2010
… while the budget is short on social policy, it does include some isolated initiatives specific to women, families and persons with disabilities; First Nations; housing; employment and training; and the environment. This analysis summarizes CASW’s observations and comments on these initiatives.

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How Canada Performs: A Report Card on Canada

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

conferenceboard.ca – website/home – This Website – How Canada Performs: A Report Card on Canada – assesses Canada’s quality of life compared with that of its peer countries.

We publish an overall report card as well as individual ones that measure performances in six categories: Economy, Innovation, Environment, Education and Skills, Health and Society. We release the report card for each category individually throughout the year.

What’s New

Posted in Education Policy Context, Equality Policy Context, Governance Policy Context, Health Policy Context, Policy Context | No Comments »

‘Historic’ law compels Ontario to fight poverty

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

TheStar.com – Ontario – ‘Historic’ law compels Ontario to fight poverty: Requires the province to create goals to cut numbers living in need
May 07, 2009.   Laurie Monsebraaten, Tanya Talaga, Staff Reporters

Fighting poverty is now the law in Ontario.

In a unanimous vote yesterday, Queen’s Park passed legislation that commits the province to become a leading jurisdiction in the battle against poverty.

Posted in Governance Policy Context, Social Security Policy Context | No Comments »

Hearings on Bill 152 – Poverty Reduction Act, 2009

Monday, April 6th, 2009

PovertyWatchOntario.com – Listserve – Hearings on Bill 152 – Poverty Reduction Act, 2009
Posted: 06 Apr 2009 12:00 PM PDT

Bill 152 – Poverty Reduction Act, 2009
Projet de loi 152 – Loi de 2009 sur la réduction de la pauvreté

The Standing Committee on Social Policy will meet to consider Bill 152, An Act respecting a long-term strategy to reduce poverty in Ontario.

The Committee intends to hold public hearings in Toronto on Monday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

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Skillful turn to economic reform

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

TheGlobeandMail.com – Opinions/Editorial – Skillful turn to economic reform
March 27, 2009

For five years, Dalton McGuinty governed Ontario as an incrementalist – a capable manager with limited ambitions to dramatically change his province. With yesterday’s budget, in response to a global recession that has hit his manufacturing-reliant province especially hard, the Premier refashioned himself as an economic reformer. It is an overdue transition, but one that for the most part appears to have been skillfully executed.

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Lowest earners have most to gain

Friday, March 27th, 2009

TheStar.com – Ontario – Lowest earners have most to gain: But more than 90% across province to get modest break
March 27, 2009.   Laurie Monsebraaten, Social Justice Reporter

Ontario’s Liberal government is providing modest tax breaks to more than 90 per cent of Ontario taxpayers, but is offering its most significant cuts for those at the lowest income levels.

Its centrepiece, announced in yesterday’s budget, is a drop in the rate of the bottom tax bracket to 5.05 per cent from 6.05 per cent on the first $36,848 of taxable income starting next January.

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An Assessment of the 2009 Budget for the Living Standards of Canadians

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Connect2Canada – Canada Watch – An Assessment of the 2009 Budget for the Living Standards of Canadians
February 27th, 2009.

In absolute terms, no one loses from the 2009 budget, according to the Centre for the Study of Living Standards.  The government did not cut programs, reduce spending, or increase taxes in any significant way. Overall, the budget does well on short-term stimulus, but it could have done more for equity and long-term productivity growth.

http://www.csls.ca/notes/note2009-1.pdf

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