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Happy Tax Benefits Day! A reply to the Fraser Institute
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011
June 7, 2011
Decades of anti-tax rhetoric – the cries for “tax relief” from the “tax burden” – have undermined public appreciation of sufficient and fair taxation. And yet there is evidence that nations in which citizens are prepared to support a deeper public pool of revenue are economically more competitive and have a higher quality of life, with lesser poverty and wealth inequality, than lower-tax nations… the most important may be to “strive to bring about a change in social attitudes toward taxation and its essential role in a democracy.” Hence the inauguration of Tax Benefits Day
Tags: budget, ideology, standard of living, tax
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
… the looming threat of potentially massive cuts to the Canada Health and Social transfers
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
February 1, 2011
A rapidly emerging issue of immense public interest is the future of the Canada Health and Canada Social transfers. Critical decisions are coming about these transfers that could greatly shape the health and social security of Canadians in the coming years – and thus the very fabric of Canada… In a remarkable open letter on January 25 to federal Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, former senior Department of Finance officials Scott Clark and Peter Devries lay out the stark implications of this issue.
Tags: budget, Health, ideology, mental Health, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Governance Debates | 1 Comment »
Major new federal report on poverty released today in the House of Commons
Wednesday, November 17th, 2010
November 17, 2010
Today, in the House of Commons, The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (the HUMA Committee) released its final report on the federal role in addressing poverty… We encourage all other interested parties to comment… The government has 120 days to respond formally to these recommendations.
Tags: featured, ideology, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
The homelessness and housing crisis in Canada
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
November 13, 2010
“Canada is inching closer to a long overdue and much-needed national affordable housing plan. Bill C-304, draft legislation to create a national plan that was proposed by Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East, is back for the second round of debate on third reading on Nov. 18. Then the Commons is scheduled to vote on Nov. 24. The Wellesley Institute’s Precarious Housing in Canada 2010 sets out the need, and the framework, for a national housing plan… Advocates hope that the bill will get third and final reading vote before the House rises for the holidays on Dec. 17.”
Tags: homelessness, housing, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
Retirement Security for Everyone Campaign
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Sep 2nd, 2010
The Canadian Labour Congress (“the umbrella organization for dozens of affiliated Canadian and international unions, as well as provincial federations of labour and regional labour councils”) has excellent, accessible information in support of labour’s Retirement Security for Everyone campaign… Under international human rights law to which Canada is signatory, everyone has the right to “social security” and an “adequate standard of living.
Tags: featured, pensions, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Social Security Debates | No Comments »
The Right to Housing: The Red Tent Campaign and Bill C-304
Saturday, July 17th, 2010
July 14, 2010
Inspired by a similar and successful effort in France, and initiated by the innovative, Vancouver-based Pivot Legal Society and allied organizations, the Red Tent Campaign uses visually striking tents to draw public attention to homelessness and the need for a pan-Canadian housing strategy – rooted in Canada’s legal obligation under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to honor the right to housing.
Tags: homelessness, housing, rights, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
The Rise and Fall of Economic and Social Rights. What’s Next?
Monday, July 12th, 2010
July 12, 2010
He’s watched Canada move from a “sharing and caring” society to the “new barbarism.” Now Ed Broadbent comes out swinging. In this article based on his address to the Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences on May 29th, the former leader of the NDP summarizes the journey of generations and issues a challenge to today’s leaders: stop ignoring the threat of rising inequality, tackle poverty, and show Canadians your progress.
Tags: poverty, rights, standard of living
Posted in Equality Debates | No Comments »
Reflections on poverty and family, from Canadian writer Lorna Crozier
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
June 28, 2010
Celebrated, award-winning Canadian poet and writer, Lorna Crozier[‘s]… memoir…Small Beneath the Sky, published in 2009… allows the reader, through a beautifully written narrative, to explore issues of poverty in a working family… “Too easily the working poor are invisible. Growing up with parents who could barely pay for the rent of a derelict house had its effects on me… most of my life I’ve carried the shame of not being as good as many other people in my small town. It’s taken me many years to shed that sense of shame.”
Tags: participation, poverty
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
Founding of the CWP Advocacy Network
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
May 25, 2010
“We have founded the CWP Advocacy Network so as to strengthen the call for progressive social policy in Canada,” says Geraldine King, President of Canada Without Poverty. “Canadian charities are considerably restricted by the Income Tax Act and Canada Revenue Agency policy in the amount of advocacy they can do, or what the CRA terms ‘political activity.’ But the reality is, to effectively address poverty in Canada requires substantial policy and legislative change. That in turn requires an active, vigorous voice on policy and legislation from civil society.
Tags: participation, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Debates | 1 Comment »
Great new report – Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts
Monday, May 3rd, 2010
May 3, 2010
Raphael and… Mikkonen explain… how Canadians’ health is shaped by how much income and wealth they have, whether or not they are employed and if so, the working conditions they experience… health is powerfully influenced by Canadians’ ability to obtain quality education, food and housing, among other factors. The report finds these conditions are declining with serious ramifications for the quality and longevity of Canadians’ lives, and outlines specific ways that the situation can be improved. The report is free to the public at http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/
Tags: featured, Health, standard of living
Posted in Health Policy Context | 5 Comments »
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