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Pierre Poilievre’s proposed mandatory minimum penalties will not reduce crime
Tuesday, March 5th, 2024
… with MMPs [mandatory minimum penalties], Parliament removes judicial discretion for any sentencing option other than imprisonment and imposes a minimum term of incarceration, regardless of the facts of the case… The evidence shows that MMPs are ineffective at reducing crime, may actually increase recidivism, are highly vulnerable to being struck down by the courts as unconstitutional, can increase delays in an overburdened system, and perpetuate systemic racism.
Tags: corrections, crime prevention, ideology
Posted in Child & Family Policy Context | No Comments »
Beyond the cafeteria: The economic case for investing in school meals
Monday, March 4th, 2024
In the long-term, universal free school lunches can also improve children’s health, academic performance and subsequent economic outcomes throughout life… Our new research summarizes the strong economic rationale for investing in school meal programs in Canada. Universal school meals can not only provide immediate relief to families, but also build a legacy of improved public health and economic prosperity for generations to come.
Tags: economy, jurisdiction, participation, standard of living, women, youth
Posted in Education Delivery System | No Comments »
Child poverty is on the rise in Canada, putting over 1 million kids at risk of life-long negative effects
Friday, February 23rd, 2024
In addition to being a human rights issue, addressing child poverty makes economic sense. This is why addressing child poverty needs to remain a priority for all Canadians. Governments, employers and communities… can do this by: Adopting a national living wage policy…; Reducing food insecurity… through nationally available school food programs; Increasing school readiness by providing universal access to quality early childhood development programs across Canada.
Tags: economy, poverty, rights, standard of living, youth
Posted in Social Security Debates | 4 Comments »
The private sector housing experiment has failed: Ottawa must now step up on social housing
Tuesday, February 13th, 2024
… some are quick to tell us… that governments should simply incentivize private sector developers and remove “red tape.” But our research shows no evidence this will work… There are many strategies needed simultaneously to address housing affordability. The expansion of social housing supply is one. But calls are all too often ignored by governments turning to the private sector for low-cost quick fixes that continue to fail those in greatest need.
Tags: homelessness, housing, ideology, privatization, rights, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
How better and cheaper software could save millions of dollars while improving Canada’s health-care system
Monday, February 5th, 2024
Although the Canadian federal government has invested over $2.1 billion developing health information technology (HIT), all 10 provinces still have their own separate HIT systems. Besides being an obvious source of redundancy and waste, these systems: do not work together, are expensive and are inconsistent… we analyzed the economic costs and savings of integrating some of the functions of the software…
Tags: budget, Health, jurisdiction, privatization
Posted in Health Delivery System | No Comments »
Here are some dos and don’ts to help tackle ableism
Wednesday, January 31st, 2024
Ableism goes beyond individual fear or prejudice. It influences who we see as having a life worth living and who is seen as a burden. That, in turn, impacts our practices and policies. We all have a role to play in challenging ableism, which may sometimes leave us feeling awkward or unsure if we’re doing and saying the right things. But, to our knowledge being awkward isn’t deadly. Ableism too often is.
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
Program at Hamilton Public Library shows how libraries can expand the social services they provide
Wednesday, December 13th, 2023
Library social workers aim to remove systemic barriers… by offering preventative support… and by helping people access services that offer longer-term solutions to their problems… they are trained and able to support trauma, mental-health issues, challenges and complex needs in a way that meets the person where they are at emotionally, physically and/or cognitively.
Tags: Health, housing, immigration, mental Health, poverty, rights
Posted in Child & Family Delivery System | No Comments »
Levelling the playing field: The case for a federal ‘anti-scab’ law
Tuesday, November 14th, 2023
Despite corporate objections to the contrary, anti-scab laws can play an integral role in improving union-management relations… it would force employers to focus on reaching negotiated settlements rather than strategizing over how to best undermine and antagonize union members exercising their right to strike.
Tags: economy, ideology, jurisdiction, rights
Posted in Policy Context | No Comments »
Ontario needs to remove barriers to child-care subsidies for low-income families
Friday, October 20th, 2023
Ontario’s current implementation plan for child-care and early-learning agreements runs the risk of leaving disadvantaged families further behind, rather than closing gaps in opportunities and outcomes for their children. To prevent this, Ontario, and indeed all provinces, need to double down on removing barriers to child-care subsidies for low-income families.
Tags: child care, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Child & Family Delivery System | No Comments »
Politicians come and go, but the clock is now ticking on long-promised pharmacare
Thursday, October 12th, 2023
Federal funding of essential medicines will, of course, cost the federal government, since it would foot the bill for all of those essential medicines instead of the provinces paying much of the costs. But the $7.6 billion price tag is a bargain. All told, a program of this kind could save provinces, employers and families $12 billion in reduced prescription drug costs. The $4 billion in direct savings for provinces alone is enough to entice even the most recalcitrant of provincial governments.
Tags: featured, Health, ideology, participation, pharmaceutical, standard of living
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
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