Posts Tagged ‘standard of living’

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Are private health care providers breaking the law? Four doctors speak out on for-profit care in Canada

Saturday, August 10th, 2024

… the Canada Health Act, which specifies that medically necessary care pertains to care provided by a physician or in a hospital in order for provinces to receive their full Canada Health Transfer payments. The Act, which became law in 1984, is understandably silent on other health-care providers, such as nurse practitioners, or technological platforms that have emerged in the ensuing years… “… it’s absolutely horrible that people are being asked to pay for primary care especially when we see such a lack of support for physicians working in primary care through the publicly funded route.”

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This group of [Indigenous] investors is making major acquisitions in Canada. The results could benefit us all

Saturday, August 10th, 2024

… at least 111 Indigenous communities have obtained or announced equity stakes in Canadian businesses in the past two years alone… Wind power, oil and gas, solar generation and electricity transmission account for about three-quarters of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit investments… Indigenous ownership in projects mitigates land-claims conflict, reduces regulatory risks for all investors, and creates other spinoff benefits.

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Out of work? You may be out of luck. Why getting EI is harder than it’s ever been

Saturday, August 10th, 2024

The program is running a honking great cumulative deficit because of the pandemic and improving access would mean hiking premiums or adding federal funding. Both options are no-fly zones for politicians these days… They have doubled EI sickness benefits, from 15 to 26 weeks; introduced extensions in EI caregiving and parental benefits; and added EI funding for training. But changes to regular jobless benefits have been temporary and targeted, despite repeated promises for deeper reforms. They’ve neither addressed workers’ needs in the 21st century, nor EI’s core purpose.

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Who wants you to believe taxes have risen 2000 per cent? Would-be Prime Minister Pierre Poilievre for a start

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

For decades the Fraser Institute has been using its ample resources to disconnect taxes in the public’s mind from all the benefits, services, programs and infrastructure that taxes provide… the effective tax rate Canadians pay has increased by 28 per cent since 1961… But… government today provides a lot more benefits than it did in 1961 — most notably, universal health coverage and old age pensions — major programs that have become essential to the well-being and financial security of Canadians.

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Many more dentists on board to provide care under dental-care program: Holland

Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

… the increase is probably thanks to a change last month that allowed providers to participate on a claim-by-claim basis rather than registering in advance… If the program is to succeed, the government doesn’t just need all current dental-care providers to be ready to sign up. More professionals will also be needed to serve the nine million or so patients Ottawa expects will be eligible for the program before the end of next year.

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The Danger of Poilievre’s ‘Axe the Tax’ Scam Hits Home

Monday, August 5th, 2024

Opposition to climate action stems mostly from Canada’s largely foreign-owned fossil fuel industry, American dark-money-funded think tanks and Canada’s major newspaper chain, owned by American hedge funds… Emissions are being reduced, and with the Canada Carbon Rebate the vast majority of Canadians are financially better off under pollution pricing… Canada cannot slogan its way out of the climate crisis

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Nearly half of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed, a major new study suggests. Here’s how

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

We need policymakers to take a “population health approach” to preventing dementia… That includes ensuring equitable access to community services, such as group exercise programs, and medical devices… hearing aids, for example… Livingston’s team outlined 13 population-level recommendations for policymakers, addressing each of dementia’s 14 modifiable risk factors.

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I’m an emergency physician. I’ve seen what a functioning health care system needs and it’s not more downloading to pharmacies

Friday, August 2nd, 2024

Rather than focus on episodic care in a way that further fragments the health-care system, a “bold and innovative” government would address the major source of health-care rot — the lack of primary-care providers. It would reorder incentives and invest in strategies to ensure that every Ontario resident has a primary care provider to manage their episodic and complex medical needs… not a pharmacist to manage their sore throats and warts.

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Crown must settle with First Nations for breaching Robinson treaties: Supreme Court

Thursday, August 1st, 2024

The Crown made a mockery of its treaty promise to the Anishinaabe in Ontario by freezing annual payments to First Nations for 150 years, and it now must make things right, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled… The decision noted that the Crown has derived “enormous economic benefit” from the land through mining and other activities over the years, while First Nations communities have suffered with inadequate housing and boil-water advisories.  Lawyers for the plaintiffs said people have been living in abject poverty.

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Welfare in Canada (2023)

Thursday, August 1st, 2024

The Welfare in Canada reports look at the total incomes available to those relying on social assistance (often called “welfare”), taking into account tax credits and other benefits along with social assistance itself. The reports look at four different household types for each province and territory… In 2023, welfare incomes remained deeply inadequate. Fifty-five out of 56 (98%) households were in poverty, with 40 of them (71%) living in deep poverty. 

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