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New program offers immigrants a foothold in the job market
Wednesday, July 4th, 2012
July 03, 2012
An immigrant who is struggling to break into the workforce applies to the Centre for Social Innovation to be a volunteer community animator. The responsibilities involve running its welcome desk, taking visitors on tours, offering clients IT support, preparing meeting rooms, helping organize community events and improving the centre’s work practices. In return, they get a full-time workspace in which to conduct their job search, free use of all the centre’s facilities (photocopiers, printers, phones, teleconferencing equipment and a kitchen) plus a membership in CSI, which allows them to participate in all workshops and programs.
Tags: economy, immigration, multiculturalism, participation
Posted in Delivery System | No Comments »
They shoot baby hippos, don’t they?
Wednesday, July 4th, 2012
July 02, 2012
the European countries that face serious debt problems — Greece, Spain, Italy — have never been big social spenders. The big social spenders are the northern European nations, particularly the Nordic countries, yet they have even lower debt levels than Canada. Indeed, the IMF data show that Sweden, Norway and Finland all have net surplus-to-GDP ratios… Of course, governments should never risk adding to the national debt by spending on frivolous items — like unneeded, overpriced military hardware. But investing in the well-being and development of Canadians isn’t frivolous. And Canada (and Ontario) are far from any sort of debt crisis.
Tags: budget, economy, globalization, ideology, standard of living, tax
Posted in Governance Policy Context | No Comments »
Disastrous… report suggests three-year university degrees and online classes
Monday, July 2nd, 2012
July 01, 2012
I oppose cutting degrees to three years, not just because other provinces and countries won’t accept this, but because fourth year is when you come into your own intellectually… The greatest danger is the report’s warm welcome to online study… You learn from the hard slog of long afternoons spent in classrooms with brilliant people. You learn to read and understand and read further. You learn to evaluate and criticize and think for yourself. You won’t get this fast, alone and on the cheap, but that is precisely what the government is planning…
Tags: budget, ideology, youth
Posted in Education Debates | No Comments »
Psychiatrists are just one resource
Monday, July 2nd, 2012
July 01, 2012
A psychiatrist is but one resource and expert on a team… doctors, nurses, social workers and peer support workers are the circle of support for the real experts — the real experts being those of us with a mental illness. Peers often assume the role of systems navigator to guide the individual through the system to find the most appropriate service. Peers take the time to listen — an art that is often missing in today’s society and that is truly healing.
Tags: disabilities, Health, ideology, mental Health, pharmaceutical
Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »
Economist Paul Krugman writes a repair manual for this depression
Monday, June 25th, 2012
Jun 24 2012
Keynes, who believed in government spending to kick-start stalled economies, is out of fashion right now. Milton Friedman is still in, the wisdom of the markets and all that. Look at us now. Clever little markets! … Here’s the essence: National economies aren’t like a household budget… when 10,000 teachers, scientists and food inspectors are laid off, that’s 10,000 salaries that don’t shop, buy a house, pay federal, provincial and local taxes and generally make the world go round.
Tags: budget, economy, featured, ideology, standard of living
Posted in Policy Context | No Comments »
How to mobilize private funds for the public good
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
Jun 19 2012
The idea is to create tools that will allow investors, philanthropists and foundations to use a portion of their money to tackle deeply entrenched social problems such as persistent poverty and environmental degradation. The concept is known as “social finance… ”Six months ago, it released a blueprint entitled Mobilizing Private Capital for Public Good… charitable organizations willing to take the risk have a strong argument to make. “You say to the government: You’re in straitened circumstances. You can’t afford to give money to these causes. If you change the rules, we will.”
Tags: budget, economy, housing, ideology, philanthropy, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Delivery System | 1 Comment »
Protests against refugee health cuts planned in 10 Canadian cities
Monday, June 18th, 2012
Jun 17 2012
asylum seekers will see much of their health coverage — from vaccinations to lab tests, diagnostic and ambulance services — gone unless their health condition puts public health at risk. Some of them also stand to lose pharmaceutical care, dentistry, vision care and access to devices such as walkers and wheelchairs. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has said the changes will save Ottawa $100 million over five years and discourage “unfounded” refugees from taking advantage of Canada’s generosity.
Tags: budget, Health, immigration, standard of living
Posted in Inclusion Policy Context | No Comments »
Closing the ‘achievement gap’ for Toronto’s aboriginal students
Monday, June 18th, 2012
Jun 16 2012
Teachers don’t know much about aboriginal history and culture and admit they haven’t been taught how to connect with students who can be shy or suspicious. Yet a provincial pilot project discovered that when aboriginal children do get extra attention and encouragement, and lesson plans that reflect their lives, they become engaged… After two years, the results were so promising that the board will continue to bankroll the push even though provincial funding has ended.
Tags: Indigenous, multiculturalism, participation, poverty, rights, standard of living, youth
Posted in Education Delivery System | 2 Comments »
Federal budget 2012: Standing up against abuse of power
Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Jun 14 2012
The spectacle of the marathon vote was planned as an opposition protest against the sweeping scope of the 425-page budget bill. Included in this unwieldy document is proposed legislation that touches on core parts of our environmental law, our vital social safety net programs, including old-age security and employment insurance, our refugee system, our research and information infrastructure, and much more. It is in many ways a country-redefining piece of legislation, an aggressive attempt on the part of the government to push through its agenda without full public debate.
Tags: budget, ideology, participation, rights, standard of living
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Repeal of Section 13 leaves only Criminal Code to deal with hate speech
Thursday, June 14th, 2012
Jun 13 2012
The Conservatives in the House of Commons have axed the anti-hate provision of the Canadian Human Rights Act… The axing of Section 13 has been presented as a free-speech issue, which it is only in part. The real motivation for repealing it has been Islamophobia… The human rights act and the commission it spawned came into being some 40 years ago as a result of yeoman efforts by the Jewish and black communities. There was to be freedom of speech but also freedom from hate. That was going to be the Canadian way…
Tags: ideology, multiculturalism, rights
Posted in Equality Debates | No Comments »
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