Posts Tagged ‘budget’

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Bare-knuckle capitalism has no place in nursing homes

Thursday, January 14th, 2021

Over the past decade, Chartwell has distributed $798 million to shareholders and paid its executives $47.3 million, including an annual salary of $229,500 for the former premier’s part-time chairmanship, which he still holds. Mike Harris’ involvement in the dubious rise of privatization — and financialization — in the long-term care industry makes it all the more outrageous that the Ford government recently awarded him the Order of Ontario, even as the pandemic continues…

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Posted in Health Debates | No Comments »


Doug Ford doesn’t believe in government — and that explains a lot

Thursday, January 14th, 2021

… the premier has been trying to bargain with the COVID-19 virus from day one. Do we really need more staff in long-term care? Do we really need to legislate paid sick days so contagious workers can stay home? Do we really need smaller class sizes so students and educators are safer? The answer to these questions is yes, but Ford hasn’t used the full legislative and financial powers of government to fight the virus. At every turn, he’s held back, seemingly always hoping for a better, cheaper deal… In other areas, the government has acted without hesitation…

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CERB controversy should spur basic income development

Tuesday, January 12th, 2021

Political leaders have the opportunity of a lifetime in 2021, and Canada has the brains, capacity, and experience it takes, to create a legacy of income security for all that is comparable to universal health care. Basic income will get us a faster, more inclusive recovery and lasting progress toward a healthier, happier society for everyone.

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A blueprint for action on long-term care

Monday, January 11th, 2021

… commit to vaccinating all long-term-care residents, staff and caregivers by Feb. 15… Ontario and Ottawa each to provide $100 million in emergency funds to hire additional long-term care staff and increase their wages… mandatory weekly inspections of long-term-care facilities and a rapid response task force of specialized health-care workers to respond to emergencies in homes… [and] dedicated provincial and federal ombuds to review all complaints from residents, their families and staff and to oversee strict new long-term-care standards that will ensure humane care for residents.

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There is no excuse for the suffering and death happening again in Ontario long-term care

Thursday, December 31st, 2020

It was ultimately Mr. Ford’s responsibility to enact emergency measures to prevent a second-wave crisis where homes would again be dangerously understaffed and residents left to suffer. Despite his promise, he dithered, wasted time and limited himself to incremental measures. Ontario seniors are now paying for it with their lives… There’s no excuse for this – not again, not this time.

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Universities shouldn’t abandon online learning after the pandemic

Monday, December 28th, 2020

The immediate value in terms of containing disease spread is obvious, but in normal times, the potential benefits can be immense also. Students can have more flexibility over how and where they learn. Online learning can reduce or eliminate the need to travel or live close to campus, saving students time and money. For universities, it offers the prospects of lower operational and maintenance costs, allowing them to invest more in high-value interactions that tend to occur in more intimate groups.

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CRA names companies that received federal emergency wage subsidy

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

… more than 368,000 businesses, non-profits and charities in Canada have received the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)… A recent review of CEWS disclosures by the Financial Post found that at least 68 publicly traded Canadian companies continued to pay out shareholder dividends while receiving the wage subsidy. The review found those companies got at least $1-billion in CEWS and paid out more than $5-billion in dividends.

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Our priorities must be with our most vulnerable

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

A “colour-blind approach” to the pandemic will not suffice, especially when reports show racialized minorities suffered from higher poverty rates prior to 2020, and now experience even stronger challenges to making ends meet… [Yet] the Ontario COVID-specific contingency funds have increased to $12 billion… [and] “the Province may end the fiscal year with outstanding balances… [using remaining funds to] “reduce both the budget deficit and Ontario’s net debt.”

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Ottawa has its hands all over the economy — and that’s just fine with business leaders

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

“The concept is to bring a strong portfolio of public investments and private investment in a kind of renewed partnership between government, Canadian companies and pension funds and financial institutions in Canada to fully position our leadership in the world, (in areas) where we think Canada as a middle-sized country could make a difference”… they should have a strategy that pushes companies to be more competitive in the areas we are already good at.

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Ottawa will take a hard look at companies that paid dividends while accepting COVID-19 supports, Justin Trudeau says

Sunday, December 20th, 2020

The program was meant to help companies avoid layoffs and keep employees on the payroll… 30 companies that paid out a combined total of $2 billion to shareholders between April and September while receiving the wage subsidy… Extendicare, the largest operator of private nursing homes in Canada, had paid nearly $10.5 million in dividends since April, while its home-care subsidiary was receiving millions of dollars from the wage subsidy.

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