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In the midst of converging crises, the Green New Deal is the answer
Sunday, March 15th, 2020
… the response to this period of converging crises is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the federal government to initiate a reset of our economy and society, putting Canada on a path toward zero emissions, and bringing immediate material benefits and enhanced, 21st century universal public services to everyone – prioritizing Indigenous, racialized and working class communities – that is, the people who need them most.
Tags: budget, economy, globalization, ideology, participation, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Our tax system is too costly for the poorest Canadians
Sunday, March 15th, 2020
… a lack of financial literacy – or even general literacy – has an impact. Insufficient computer skills and lack of access to accounting resources also play a role. Yet, the predominant cause remains the mind-boggling and growing complexity of our tax system… Even chartered professional accountants think that the current system of tax deductions and credits is too complex… tax credits and exemptions targeting middle and higher-income Canadians should be abolished and replaced by broad-based tax cuts.
Tags: featured, ideology, participation, poverty, tax
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Shut it down: It’s time for Canada to get serious about social distancing
Thursday, March 12th, 2020
Canada needs to embrace social distancing… early implementation [of six social-distancing measures during past flu pandemics] delayed the peak in the number of infections, relieving the burden on health-care systems by spreading out the cases over a longer period of time… we can’t afford to become Italy, a country that was slow to act and is now paying a massive price, with more than 10,000 cases, 600 deaths and a collapsing economy.
Tags: budget, Health, jurisdiction, participation
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
Making sense of Canada’s joyless democracy
Saturday, March 7th, 2020
Winning both a majority of votes and a majority of seats is a high benchmark for any politician to achieve. The past 50 years of federal elections in Canada have produced this double majority on only one occasion – under Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Mulroney in 1984. Also, minority governments have been and can be productive. One should not confuse the disappointment of a majority of Canadians after a particular campaign outcome with Canada’s democracy being dysfunctional.
Tags: ideology, participation
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Why the Canada Revenue Agency should do our taxes for us
Friday, March 6th, 2020
The CRA automatically receives information about the employment and investment income for most Canadians, so let its computers fill out the forms and do the math on our behalf for free… where effectively you get a prepopulated digital return, which has all your income and deductions that it [the CRA] knows about there. And you either sign off on it, ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ or add any additional lines that are relevant and then submit it… Already 36 countries, including Britain, Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, allow return-free tax filing for some taxpayers
Tags: economy, featured, tax
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
The future of medicare shouldn’t be left up to the courts
Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020
Most countries with universal health care have a mix of public and private provision and payment of care… Canada actually has more private spending and a greater dependence on private insurance than virtually every other country with universal health care… for prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, hearing aids, home care, long-term care and much more. Surely many of these services are “medically necessary,” but public access and funding is greatly lacking. Ultimately, we need to decide what is covered by medicare and what isn’t.
Tags: featured, Health, ideology, jurisdiction, privatization
Posted in Health Policy Context | No Comments »
Canada’s poverty rate declines, but strides less apparent for single people
Monday, February 24th, 2020
Canada’s poverty rate declined to a new low in 2018 as the number of low-income people has fallen by more than one million over a three-year period… The percentage of Canadians in poverty was 8.7 per cent, down from 9.5 per cent in 2017 and the lowest under the current formula, which is soon to be replaced… Statscan pointed to gains in market income – that is, income from employment, private pensions and investments – with making an impact… a government focus on child benefits – both at the federal and provincial levels – has also helped
Tags: budget, economy, housing, ideology, participation, poverty
Posted in Social Security Policy Context | No Comments »
On the surface, Canada looks healthy – but don’t be fooled
Friday, February 21st, 2020
The characteristics that defined a trusted institution in the past are not the ones that make a trusted institution today. Today’s leaders are expected to lead with purpose and to address the issues that affect their communities and stakeholders, not just shareholders. For our institutions to build and maintain trust, we must embrace a new leadership model that prioritizes these behaviours.
Tags: economy, ideology
Posted in Debates | No Comments »
Canadians with mental illness deserve access to medical assistance in dying
Tuesday, February 18th, 2020
There is no evidence vulnerable patients are being pushed into assisted death against their will. If anything, the contrary is true. MAID has become an option for the elite, while people with physical and mental disabilities have repeatedly had to turn to the courts to have their right to choose respected… We don’t insist that patients with terminal cancer content themselves with hopes and prayers, and we shouldn’t expect people with intractable mental illness to do so either.
Tags: ideology, mental Health, rights
Posted in Health Policy Context | No Comments »
It’s time to rethink the social contract for our rapidly changing world
Monday, February 17th, 2020
… lifetimes are getting longer but… households are saving ever less to cover their retirement years … in 2017, more than… 41 per cent did not save for retirement; 20 per cent did not save at all; and 12 per cent do not have a six-month savings buffer… the labour market is changing in a way that some are being left behind, income polarization is only growing and it appears that every generation feels they are being denied access to the economic party.
Tags: economy, globalization, ideology, participation, pensions, standard of living
Posted in Equality Policy Context | No Comments »
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