Saturday, April 30, 2011

Easy access to community, social, health and related government services in Ontario

http://www.211ontario.ca/ontario/goHome?langInd=E


211 is here to help

211 is a three-digit phone number and website that provides information and referral to community and social services in Ontario. Our Certified Information and Referral Specialists are caring, understanding and knowledgeable, and pride themselves on their ability to connect you with the services you need.

When you don't know where to turn, call 211
With information on more than 56,000 agencies and services, we can help you find the answers you need, quickly and easily. Our phone service is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and is available in more than 150 languages.

Find the information you need at www.211ontario.ca
If you need help finding the services that are right for you, visit http://www.211ontario.ca/ for a directory of more than 56,000 agencies and services in Ontario. Our easy-to-use website is fully searchable, updated frequently and is available in both English and French versions.

"211 solved my problem and I got all the answers."

"I got to talk to a person and they helped me."

Check out the election tools on Vote Social Canada



http://votesocial.ca/

This election, real change is possible if we all show up.

Voting makes a difference. Voting with all your friends will really make a difference. Plus it's more fun. Let's protect Canadian values of cooperation and democracy by not just voting, but voting social.

Stats Canada: If you're poor, risk for breast cancer is increased

Breast cancer incidence and neighbourhood income
By Marilyn J. Borugian et al.

Incidence and mortality rates for most chronic diseases including several types of cancer are higher among people of lower socio-economic status. By contrast, for female breast cancer in developed countries, the relationship may be inverted, with women of higher socio-economic status having higher rates, even when risk factors that differ by socio-economic status such as parity, age at first birth and hormone use are taken into account. Only one earlier study examined the risk of breast cancer in relation to socio-economic status in Canada, and it focused on the effects of passive smoking.

Harper's most controversial quotes (as compiled by the TORIES!)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/story/2011/04/25/cv-election-harper-dossier.html#

April 25, 2011
A 500-page dossier of potentially damaging remarks by Stephen Harper has hit the election campaign, but don't blame the opposition parties — it was prepared by the Conservatives. The thick binder of material, obtained by the Liberals, is a treasure trove of controversial Harper quotes, listed alphabetically by subject matter. It covers everything from abortion to western alienation and dates as far back as the 1980s.



Here are some sickening samples, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/inside-politics-blog/2011/04/the-harper-quotes-dossier-a-sample.html

Here are some of the Stephen Harper quotes that the Conservatives identified and compiled as potential political headaches several years ago so they were ready to counter what the other parties' research teams dug up.

The quotes are divided by subject matter mostly - going through the 100 pages of updates first so we get the freshest batch. Then onto the original 359 pages. Please note that the first date is the date the binder was prepared - the date of the quote comes after the quote.

The index to the whole package includes section headings for abortion, the CBC, Brian Mulroney, bilingualism, Aboriginal issues, ethnic voting, Ezra Levant and Jean Charest.

-From the June 26, 2003 update, page 5 - on health:
"The federal government doesn't run the health-care system, it didn't create it and it's not going to fix it." April 12, 2001

-From the June 26, 2003 update, page 9-10 - on health:
"Part of my skepticism with the Romanow Commission," he said, "is the idea that you can somehow just do a study and consult a lot of people. Ultimately, there is going to have to be experimentation and working with some solutions to find out whether they pan out or not." (no date - from Toronto Star article called "New Alliance leader rips health care..." The Romanow Commission delivered its final report Nov. 28, 2002)

-From the July 22, 2003 update, page 5 - on the Liberal Party:
"The fundamental strategy of the Liberal party for the last 30 years remains screw the West, get the rest." - 06/2003 (date partially cut off)

-From the June 26, 2003 update, page 4 - on MP pay:
"Most MPs are bit players in today's parliamentary system, with the average backbencher merely acting as an ombudsman for constituents on non-partisan issues and as a local sales representative for his/her political party on the big issues. That's why we believe that before MPs demand more money, they should reform the system and give themselves a role that's deserving of more money." (Sept. 1, 1998)

-From the June 26, 2003 update, page 18 - on social conservatism:
"We need to rediscover Burkean or social conservatism because a growing body of evidence points to the damage the welfare state is having on your most important institutions, particularly the family. Conservatives have to give much higher place to confronting threats posed by modern Liberals to this building block of our society." Jan. 6, 2003

-From the July 22, 2003 update, page 5 - on polls about Iraq war:
"It's a little harder to read, you know, we have kind of all Liberal media sponsored polls here." - 03/2003 to Fox News (date partially cut off)

-From the June 26, 2003 update, page 8 - on the Iraq war:
"We should not rule out any options. The Prime Minister's position today seems to be exactly our position." - Jan. 8, 2003 (not ruling out intervention without UN approval)

 -From the July 22, 2003 update, page 6 - on Canada Post:
"The real problem is the double monopoly in postal service. The government gives post office management a monopoly over Canadians' mail, and then Canada Post gives CUPW union bosses the labour monopoly power to shut the service down... Only ending the monopoly will ensure that Canadians are never held hostage by another postal strike." - 02/1997 (date partially cut off) 9.

-From the Jan. 7, 2004 update, page 12 - on health:
"The solution is to have a healthcare system where people pay some of the costs themselves." "If we had a healthcare system based on insurance and we paid for these services out of our own pocket, this would be a non-issue." - referring to what the article's writer called broad-brush swipes at people whose behaviour is deemed costly (March 22, 1999)

-From the June 26, 2003 update, page 11 - on election advertising laws:
"Studies have shown over and over again that people can hear political ads in all kinds of volume and make up their own mind. This whole idea that the voters can't decide, and the voters might vote wrong is a fundamentally undemocratic notion." - May 10, 2000

-From June 26, 2003 update - page 2 - on the UN and NATO - this was on Politics with Don Newman:
"I think the UN security Council, the role that some had hoped it would play post-Cold War, is dead. Not just because of this but because of Kosovo. NATO's role is also in doubt." 04/2004 (date cut off)

-From original Harper Quotations database - April 17, 2003 - p. 227 - on being a career politician:
"It has never been my intention to seek a second term or to become a career politician." May 10, 1996

"I can state categorically that I would not be a candidate in any future leadership contest ... The decision to run again would have meant that I was making politics my career ... I've been at this particular game for over a decade and on a personal level I feel it's time to get some broader experience outside Parliament. Parliament is already dysfunctional ... The last thing that Parliament needs is to be filled with people who have never done anything but partisan politics." May 10, 1996

-From June 26, 2003 update - page 1 - on an Ipsos poll showing only 15 per cent of Canadians thought Canada should contribute troops to a unilateral attack on Iraq:
"I don't give a damn about the polls." 04/2003 (date cut off)

-From June 26, 2003 update - page 1 - on John Manley and the Liberals opposing the US invasion of Iraq:
"I mean, this is a communications tactic worthy of Saddam Hussein." 04/2003

-From June 26, 2003 update - page 3 - on the CBC:
As published in the Langley, B.C. AdvanceNews: 'Harper accused Chrétien's Liberals "and frankly some elements of our national broadcasting corporation" of apparently wanting to prove that "the America of George Bush is not better than the Iraq of Saddam Hussein".' April 11, 2003

-From Aug. 28, 2003 update - page 1 - on Alberta:
"We [Alberta] are the only province in Canada keeping pace with the top tier countries in the world. Now we must show that we will not stand for a second-tier country run by a third-world leader with fourth-class values." 02/2001

-From Aug. 28, 2003 - page 3 - on Elections Canada and then-Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley:
'"The jackasses at Elections Canada are out of control." Please excuse my language, but when I learned Elections Canada's bureaucrats have pressed charges against a Canadian citizen, I just blew my cool. That is the exact language I used ... This is not the first attack on freedom by Elections Canada. Its heavy-handed chief, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, has been an advocate of the most minute of controls and regulations - and stiff punishments - on every aspect of "free" elections.' 08/2001

-From Aug. 28, 2003 - page 3 - on Elections Canada and then-Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley:
"Simply put, Kingsley is a dangerous man. It is appropriate that journalists have dubbed him Canada's 'Chief Electoral Ideologue' and 'Chief Electoral Nanny.'" 08/2001

-From Aug. 28, 2003 supplement, page 7 - on the Wheat Board:
'On the prairies, we [NCC] demand marketing freedom for farmers. The Soviet-styled Canadian Wheat Board monopoly has suppressed free enterprise and value-added production for too long ... Let's unshackle western farmers from the CWB. That's the only real "Farm Crisis" solution.' 02/2000

-From Jan. 7, 2004 supplement, page 4 - on Reform and Quebec: "I don't think anybody, frankly, in this party is very scared about pissing off the Bloc." June 7, 1996

-From Jan. 7, 2004 supplement, page 4 - on the Canadian Alliance: "This political party stands for values that are eternal ... this country will either adopt our values or it will fail." Dec. 20, 2001

*Note - John Baird said on April 5 that Harper was different from Ignatieff because "he's never criticized Canadian peacekeepers." It was in response to a question about both leaders having made (years ago) remarks about Canada that could be construed as negative.

-From Jan. 7, 2004 supplement, page 11 - on peacekeeping in Rwanda:
"I'm not being facetious these people are disappointed that the Hutu are returning home and there's no longer any need for them to be saved by Canadians ... They [the Liberals] launched the mission purely on the basis of television footage ... and mined it for public relations purposes." Dec. 9, 1996 (Context note provided by Conservative staffer says "The Leader discusses the debacle that was the UN involvement in Rwanda. Being overly critical of a military deployment may be considered a bit rich considering our advocacy on behalf of the liberation of Iraq.").

-From Jan. 7, 2004 supplement, p 13 - on health:
"The Canada Health Act must be opened up. The federal government is playing an entirely negative role in health care." Jan. 19, 2002

-From April 11, 2003 Harper Quotations, p. 11 - on western alienation:
"I too am one of these angry westerners. The Liberals demonized the West and Alberta in particular ... we may love Canada, but Canada does not love us ... let's make the province strong enough that the rest of the country is afraid to threaten us." Dec. 18, 2000

-From April 11, 2003 Harper Quotations, p. 43 - on bilingualism:
"That special status is needed to protect the French language in Quebec is simply false." Jan. 20, 2002

-From April 11, 2003 Harper Quotations, p. 54 - on the Canada Pension Plan:
"Low and middle income Canadians are the ones who fund the Canada Pension Plan now. They seem to have the money to do it. If they have the money to provide government with pensions, why don't they have the money to invest it themselves? I think there's a fundamental contradiction here." Feb. 23, 1997

-From April 11, 2003 Harper Quotations, p. 121 - on universities:
"I think we're vastly over-invested in universities. Universities should be relatively small and provide excellent education and research in a number of specialized areas. I think the vast majority of young people should be going through non-university, post-secondary training." Sept. 15, 2000

-From April 11, 2003 Harper Quotations, p. 138 - on immigration:
"You've got to remember that west of Winnipeg the ridings the Liberals hold are dominated by people who are either recent Asian immigrants or recent migrants from eastern Canada: people who live in ghettoes and who are not integrated into western Canadian society." Jan. 22, 2001

Life on ODSP - a compelling video



View the compelling video of Darren Nesbit (Sarnia) as he tells of his struggle to live on limited groceries after paying his rent.This presentation occurred at an event convened in Hamilton on Friday, December 4, 2009 to mark the first anniversary of the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

ISARC - Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition

http://isarc.ca/

About ISARC: values and history

The Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition was born out of the hope that together a coalition of faith groups could contribute to new public policies based upon greater justice and dignity for Ontarians marginalized by poverty.

The central message shared by religious communities throughout the world, inspires people of faith to respond to our neighbours in need.
Download and print our information brochure.

ISARC values
  • Human Dignity. The right of all people and their communities to be treated with justice, love, compassion, and respect, and their responsibility to treat others likewise.
  • Mutual Responsibility. The obligation of communities to care and share with their people, ensuring that basic needs are met.
  • Social Equity. The right of all people to adequate access to basic resources, to full participation in the life and decision-making of their communities.
  • Economic Equity. The right of all people and communities to adequate access to the resources necessary for full lives, including access to worthwhile work, fair employment considerations, and our communal responsibilities to use such resources responsibly.
  • Fiscal Fairness. The right of all people, communities, and institutions to fair fiscal treatment and the responsibility of all to contribute fairly for the well-being of all.
  • Ecological Sustainability. The obligation of communities to practise responsible stewardship of the earth and its environment, so that creation might be preserved for generations to come.


For Jews
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". (Leviticus 19.17).

For Muslims
"No one of you is a believer until he desire for his brother
what he desires for himself" (Sumah).

For Christians
"Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22.39).

For Buddhists
"Hurt not others, in ways that you yourself would find hurtful"
(Udana-Varga 5.18).

For Unitarian Universalists
"Affirm the worth and dignity of every person."

For Hindus
"Behave with others as you would with yourself. Look upon all living beings as your bosom friend, for in all of them there resides one soul. All are part of that Universal Soul. A person who believes that all are his soul mates and loves them all alike never feels lonely. The divine qualities of forgiveness, compassion and service will make him loveable in the eyes of all. He will experience intense joy throughout his life". (Yajur Veda 40 - 6).

Toronto Star
By Bruce Campion-Smith

Briefly:

"It’s controversial, political divisive and could have a lasting effect on how Canadians see their country. And it’s not Monday’s election. It’s the census and missing this year are the detailed long-form questionnaires that have helped many corners of Canadian society plan for the future. Yet many experts warn that the loss of the mandatory long-form census — and its questions on education, employment and commuting habits — risks leaving Canadians in the dark about their changing lifestyles and trends.

“That’s my firm belief,” said Ivan Fellegi, who served as chief statistician at Statistics Canada for 23 years. “But more important than that, we will not only have less knowledge about ourselves, we will have the wrong knowledge about ourselves because we won’t know what’s right and what’s wrong."

Seniors and low-income families suffer tax hit

Full article: Seniors and low-income families suffer tax hit


The combination of taxes and GIS clawbacks mean the effective tax rates for seniors can reach 100% for seniors, the C.D. Howe Institute says.

By Jonathan Chevreau
April 28, 2011
Financial Post

Briefly:

"Despite a decade of falling personal income tax rates, low income families and seniors face effective tax rates of 50% or more if they supplement government benefits with work, a C.D. Howe brief released Wednesday says. As soon as families start earning money or seniors withdraw money from retirement funds, benefits may be taxed or "clawed back." The Marginal Effective Tax Rate or METR is one of those odd concepts that views reductions in government benefits as a sort of additional tax. The classic case is poor seniors losing the Guaranteed Income Supplement as their dubious "reward" for saving in RRSPs. These ultimately become forced taxable withdrawals from RRIFs. The combination of taxes and GIS clawbacks can reach 100% for seniors, the institute says."


 

Addressing Child and Family Poverty in Canada: Where do the parties stand?







Three out of four cross-Canada parties commit to reduce poverty; Conservatives ignore Poverty Reduction and Inequality


Citing the persistence of poverty and growing gap between the rich and poor across Canada, national anti-poverty coalition Campaign 2000 today expressed satisfaction that three out of four parties have committed to a poverty reduction plan.

Reducing poverty and inequality is not just a moral issue, but an essential element in managing the economy.
Poverty and inequality drive health care and crime control expenditures, lead to skilled labour shortages through poor educational attainment, and generate social conflict.

Poverty persists across Canada with nearly one in ten people, including 610,000 low-income children and their mothers, living in poverty (2008 LICO after-tax). These most recent statistics do not reflect the current situation or the full impact of the recession and continuing economic disruption. These families still feel the double burden of job loss at the workplace and increased economic stress at home.

“We’ve analyzed the party platforms and found that all parties except for the Conservative Party have plans for poverty reduction in their platforms. The Liberals, New Democrats and Greens have all agreed to develop a plan to address poverty, to establish a system of universally accessible, high quality early childhood education and care services and to develop a national strategy for affordable housing including funds for social housing. The Bloc Québécois also supports a plan to make poverty history in Canada that recognizes Québec’s particular role in social policy,” said Laurel Rothman, National Coordinator of Campaign 2000. “These commitments are essential to an effective strategy to reduce and eventually eradicate poverty in Canada.”

“We do know how to reduce and eradicate poverty – northern European countries have child and family poverty rates below 5%, without sacrificing vibrant economic growth or prosperity. Those countries invest in people throughout the life cycle and everyone in society benefits. In Canada, the majority of provinces have adopted or are all working on poverty reduction plans. But the missing link is an active federal government role,” said Sid Frankel, University of Manitoba and Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. “That’s why this federal election is so important – we need Canada’s next federal government to commit to a plan to reduce poverty levels by at least 25% over the next 5 years and enshrine that in legislation.”

To view a full copy of the Campaign 2000 party grid (short form and long form) summarizing party platforms on poverty, visit http://www.campaign2000.com/

Campaign 2000 is a non-partisan cross Canada coalition of over 120 organizations committed to ending child & family poverty in Canada.

Mental Health For All - May 1-7 is Mental Health Week

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) launches 60th Anniversary of Mental Health Week,
May 1 - 7, 2011 with nationwide activities and events

(TORONTO, APRIL 28, 2011) - It’s an important year for the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). We’re celebrating 60 years of improving people’s understanding of mental health through our annual Mental Health Week, May 1 – 7, 2011! Local and national events and activities are planned among many of our 140 plus locations in communities across Canada.

CMHA’s Mental Health Week is an annual national event that takes place during the first week in May to encourage people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health.

“Mental health is an important part of our overall health and well-being,” says Peter Coleridge CEO, CMHA, National. “We’re very conscious of our physical health but few of us take the time to focus on our own mental health yet research has demonstrated that our physical and mental health is interconnected.”

That’s why this year’s Mental Health Week theme is Mental Health For All. Mental Health Week 2011 will focus on key topics that will help the public have a broader understanding of mental health, including: Kids Have Stress Too!; Workplace Mental Health; Resiliency; and Mental Health Is Everyone’s Concern.Mental Health For All. Mental Health Week 2011 will focus on key topics that will help the public have a broader understanding of mental health, including: Kids Have Stress Too!; Workplace Mental Health; Resiliency; and Mental Health Is Everyone’s Concern.

“Unfortunately, there is still significant misunderstanding surrounding mental health issues,” says Coleridge. “If I said, for instance, that I was fighting cancer or heart disease, you would be compassionate and supportive. But if I told you that I was depressed, many would view this as a weakness and not know how to help. We need to change society’s attitudes and behaviours so that people with mental health problems can be supported in managing or recovering from their illness like any other illness.”

For more information about Mental Health Week please visit: http://www.mentalhealthweek.ca/ or follow us on Facebook

Democracy: nurture, develop, defend it

Earlier this week I got this message in my in-box from a professor at UWO:

"Democracy comes into being by our political determination; it does not happen by evolution. You could nurture, develop and defend it or you could let it slip away from our hands in one generation. Don't forget to vote on the Federal Election Day on May 2nd."

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Methadone madness strikes

From today's London Free Press

Methadone madness strikes


Ah...nothing like a daily dose of hatred to get your day started.  Be sure to see the comments.  Definitely some food for thought among the comments.

For another perspective, local blogger David Cohen is writing here:

Methadone Blues

Divorce & Your Credit

This booklet looks at what people should do about getting their financial affairs in order before discussing divorce, what kind of information people should have about their finances, what to do about individual and joint bank accounts, and how to get credit after divorce.
 

Poverty hides in the suburbs: Will ‘priority neighbourhoods’ help?

From today's Globe and Mail

Poverty hides in the suburbs: Will ‘priority neighbourhoods’ help?

I appreciate that the story ended with a "Pro & Con":

"PRO AND CON: Toronto’s priority neighbourhood program

Proponent: Scarborough Centre Councillor Glenn de Baeremaeker says Toronto’s program has been a “huge success” in the two priority neighbourhoods in his ward. “The kind of services in a suburb like Scarborough aren’t as developed as in the downtown wards,” he said. “Yes, there is an image or stereotype about Scarborough, but the reality is priority neighbourhoods have done a lot in helping people find jobs, access to daycare and engaging youth.”

Critic: Scarborough-Agincourt Councillor Mike Del Grande said he hasn’t seen much change in the Steeles-L’Amoreaux priority neighbourhood in his ward. “We’ve got more daycares now, but I think a flaw with this program is there’s no measurement of progress.” As budget chief, Mr. Del Grande will be looking at cuts to many of the city’s programs, which include the Priority Neighbourhoods project. Currently, council is waiting for staff reports on the progress of the project."

Shining a Light on Racialized Poverty


Time
 
Wednesday, May 11 · 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Location
London Public Library (Central)
251 Dundas St.
London, Ontario

Created By

More Info
The Colour of Poverty London shines a light on Racialized poverty in our local community with the help of our panel of community members and keynote speaker Dr. Wisdom J. Tettey

FREE LUNCH - NETWORKING - KEYNOTE SPEAKER - COMMUNITY PANEL

COLOUR OF POVERTY PRESENTATION

To Register please RSVP by May 6 By contacting COPL Co-Chair Jenny Sager 519.639.1597 or jsager@ciclsp.ca


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Criminal Background Checks at Canada Post

Canada Post now offers Canadians the convenience of verifying their identification documents for background checks at their local post office. The new service is offered through an agreement with BackCheck™, a company that provides pre-employment screening. Canadians will now be able to walk in to their local post office and proceed with their ID verification - a requirement of the background check process for organizations requiring a criminal record check. For more information, and to view the full report, visit: www.backcheck.net.

Download the brochure HERE

I called the toll free number tonight to inquire about the cost for a Criminal Background Check: $49 plus tax.

Report from the Partnership Project available for download


Ontario has released a new strategy to strengthen its partnership with the not-for-profit (NFP) sector, such as charity, sport and community organizations that support over one million jobs and contribute close to $50 billion to the province’s economy.

The Partnership Project report provides a concrete plan on ways the government can be more responsive, supportive and accessible to NFP organizations.

The Partnership Project is a discussion about how to strengthen the relationship between the Ontario government and the province’s not-for-profit sector. This initiative will consider how government can be more responsive, supportive and accessible to the not-for-profit (NFP) sector. This includes looking at what works and what doesn’t in terms of legislation, policies, structural issues, considering new funding and financing mechanisms, as well as identifying new and better ways to coordinate policy, research and communication with and for the sector. The Partnership Project is searching for innovative and cost-effective solutions that enhance the work of not-for-profits and make Ontario stronger.

Connected Citizens: the Power, Peril, and Potential of Networks

I've become really interested in networks --watching how the current federal election campaign is unfolding on blogs, websites, and facebook has been particularly fascinating in recent weeks.

A new Knight Foundation and Monitor Institute report explores how an increasingly connected world will affect the way people push for social change. Connected Citizens: The Power, Peril and Potential of Networks draws from more than 70 examples of how networks are used to build better and more engaged communities. The report looks ahead to the year 2015 and envisions three scenarios of how society may evolve as a result of the changing way people connect to information and each other. Designed to help funders consider how to use networks to foster community change, the report also includes five promising ways people are using networks for social action.

"Ten years ago, a tiny web site asked people to volunteer to write their own encyclopedia. Today, Wikipedia is the most widely used reference work in the world. Rapid advances in digital media and technology are changing how we connect to information and each other. The way we engage in public dialogue, coordinate, solve problems—all of it is shifting. New networks are emerging everywhere. It’s exciting—and frightening. What is this new network-centric world? What does it mean for community change?"

Ligne de Conseils Juridiques Sommaires

Ligne de Conseils Juridiques Sommaires
French Legal Advice Line
1 855 650-9716



May 1, 2011 marks the official opening of the French Legal Advice Line for Southwestern Ontario which is administered by the Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic. This pilot project, funded by Legal Aid Ontario, was created to promote and enhance access to justice and French Language Services and is not intended to replace existing services. This is the fourth line of its kind in the province.

A Community Legal Worker will respond to calls via a toll free number and will offer summary legal advice to low income residents of Southwestern Ontario under the supervision of clinic lawyers. The goal is to reach underserviced areas in the counties of Essex, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Elgin, Oxford, Brant, Huron, Perth, Bruce and Grey.

Callers will be able to discuss their rights and responsibilities. Referrals to appropriate agencies will also be provided.

Areas of law include : Social Assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works, Canada Pension Plan, Employment rights, Immigration, Housing (Tenants Rights) and Human Rights. Consultations are private and confidential.

The three other Legal Advice lines already established are:

1) Le Centre communautaire de Vanier for Eastern Ontario ;

2) La Clinique juridique communautaire de Sudbury for Northern Ontario and certain central regions including Barrie, Parry Sound, regions of Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes;

3) Le Centre francophone de Toronto for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

For more information on our service, please call 1 855 650-9716. We look forward to serving you in French!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Global Health Discussion Forum: Health Inequalities Among Canada's Most Vulnerable

Session 10A: Working with Marginalized Communities 
Tuesday, April 19, 2011  6:00 p.m. MSB 148 (UWO) 

"Health Inequalities Among Canada's Most Vulnerable"
Dr. Jeff Turnbull CM, MD, MEd, FRCP
President of the Canadian Medical Association
Chief of Staff The Ottawa Hospital 

Jeff Turnbull  practices internal medicine both at The Ottawa Hospital and at several shelters associated with Ottawa Inner City Health.



Ontario Municipal Social Services Association




OMSSA 2011 Federal Election Comparison chart

"This summary of federal political party platforms is intended to provide, in their own words, a synopsis of party positions on issues central of OMSSA members. We will continue to update this chart as parties release information.  For further details, please see party platforms and issue papers, which may be found on each party’s website."

Housing and Homelessness
Employment and Income Issues
Early Learning and Child Care and other family issues
Other human issues

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Canada’s corporate tax policy sustains child poverty

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/972072
From last Sunday's (Apr. 10th) Toronto Star
 by Simon Rosenblum and Sid Frankel

Here's a highlight:

"Simply put, the Harper government faced no economic imperative in introducing more corporate tax cuts. It was a matter of ideology trumping sound economics.

Now, in order to pay for them, Canadians are going to have do without some important goods and services — what economists call social goods. Social goods like investments in our children which, while you can’t go to the mall to buy, make us richer as a society."


Citizens for Public Justice

Here's the link:

Election 2011: Fighting poverty – the party platforms
Click on the link to check out the Parties' platforms on poverty.


"How we treat our most vulnerable citizens says a lot about our country and its values. The same is true of governments.
Citizens for Public Justice, along with our partners in the Dignity for All campaign, have long called for vigorous and sustained action by the federal government to combat poverty in Canada. We’ve described the measures that we think are necessary to achieve the vision of a poverty-free Canada in the three goals of the Dignity for All campaign:
  • A federal plan for poverty elimination that complements provincial and territorial plans.
  • A federal anti-poverty Act that ensures enduring federal commitment and accountability for results.
  • Sufficient federal investment in social security for all Canadians.
We’ve also argued that eliminating poverty calls for a comprehensive approach that addresses factors including income security, housing, Early Childhood Education and Care, Employment Insurance and job creation."


Project Democracy

http://www.projectdemocracy.ca/

"Welcome to ProjectDemocracy.ca.
Canadians don’t have an electoral system that directly reflects the ballot box.  With our 'first-past-the-post' electoral system, vote splitting means Canadians could end up with a majority Harper Government with as little as 35 percent of the popular vote.  This is not the outcome most Canadians want, and avoiding it requires voter knowledge and cooperation.

In the last election voteforenvironment.ca was the go-to site for nearly half a million unique visitors who clicked in time and again to determine how they could mark their ballot to get an acceptable electoral outcome.   If you were one of those 440,000 – congratulations, it worked!  On the last day that public opinion polls were available, the VFE website model showed that the Conservatives were on track to win 152 seats, but on Monday, they were elected in 143.  Our analysis shows thousands of visits to our advice regarding the candidate with the best chance to beat the Conservative in key ridings. (link here for 2008 analysis)

ProjectDemocracy.ca builds on voteforenvironment.ca.  The stakes for our environment were very high in 2008, and remain at risk.  Since then it has become even clearer that Harper is prepared to ignore the basic tenets of our democracy to keep in power and pursue his ideological agenda.  For all those who care deeply about our democracy, stopping the Harper machine is job one.

Please check your riding, sign-up and spread the word (especially to people you may know in key ridings)."





Friday, April 15, 2011

The Ethnic Vote



Communities of Colour reject the tactics of certain politicians in their targeting of particular ethno-racial groups in pursuit of so-called "very ethnic votes" !?

A newspaper story about this video:



http://www.colourofpoverty.ca/ has some well done fact sheets about racialized poverty.

FactSheet #1 - Introduction
FactSheet #2 - Snapshot
FactSheet #3 - Education
FactSheet #4 - Health
FactSheet #5 - Employment
FactSheet #6 - Income
FactSheet #7 - Justice
FactSheet #8 - Immigration
FactSheet #9 - Housing
FactSheet #10 - Food (In)Security
FactSheet Source Document Reference List 2007

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Just the Canadian Facts


"Childhood poverty, not individual lifestyle, is a more accurate predictor of heart and other diseases no matter how healthy and wealthy you become as an adult."


Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts considers 14 social determinants of health:

1. Income and Income Distribution
2. Education
3. Unemployment and Job Security
4. Employment and Working Conditions
5. Early Childhood Development
6. Food Insecurity
7. Housing
8. Social Exclusion
9. Social Safety Network
10. Health Services
11. Aboriginal Status
12. Gender
13. Race
14. Disability

The publication outlines why they are important; how Canada is doing in addressing them; and what can be done to improve their quality. The purpose of the report is to provide promote greater awareness of the social determinants of health and the development and implementation of public policies that improve their quality. 

NEWS:  
May 11, 2010
April 29, 2010

Sobering statistics cited by the report include:
  • 15 per cent of Canadian children are living in poverty, putting Canada at a rank of 20th out of 30 of the world's wealthiest nations as defined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
  • Only 17 per cent of Canadian families have access to regulated child care. Canada ranked last among 25 wealthy, developed nations in meeting various early childhood development objectives.
  • Canada is amongst the lowest in its coverage of total health-care costs. Medicare covers only 70 per cent of total health-care costs, giving Canada a rank of 22nd of 30 OECD nations for public coverage of health-care costs.
  • Canada is among the nations with the greatest gap between men's and women's earnings. Canada ranks 19th of 22 OECD nations in reducing the earnings gap between men and women.
  • Over 40 per cent of Canadians with disabilities are not in the labour force, forcing many of them to rely upon social assistance benefits. Canada ranks 27th of 29 in public spending on disability-related issues.

Lunch & Learn Series 2011

I attended the Lunch & Learn last Wednesday at Regional Mental Health Care - London: "From Streets to Home" presented by Mission Services.  The most alarming news for my ears was the outrageous caseworker to client ratios.  For example, there are 7 Full Time Streetscape outreach service caseworkers, each giving service to 85 people.  WOW!

So here's what's coming up:

Wednesdays
12 – 1 pm
Regional Mental Health Care, London
850 Highbury Ave. North
Wickware Amphitheatre (across from the main entrance)
May 4, 2011
Good Grief – Talking about Grief and Bereavement
By: Sue Hutton, Regional Support Associates

June 1, 2011
Introducing Nutrition in a Community Mental Health Setting
By: Lisa Driessen, BA, BScN, RN, WOTCH Community Mental Health Services

October 5, 2011
A Family Members Lived Experience
By: Anita Garnet

November 2, 2011
Cultural Competency and the Mental Health System
By: Monica Abdelkader, London Cross Cultural Learner Centre

December 7, 2011
A Safety Planning Guide For Women at Risk
By: Cecilia Inguanse and Kim Tremblay, WOTCH Community Mental Health Services.

Friday, April 08, 2011

Democracy



Hennessy's Index: A number is never just a number April 2011: Democracy 
(download the PDF from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives)

1918
The year women secured the right to vote in Canada. 1944 France. 2005 Kuwait.

1947
The year Chinese Canadians secured the right to vote.

1960
The year non-enfranchised Aboriginal peoples in Canada secured the right to vote.

73.1

Percentage of Canadians who voted in 1867 federal election: year of confederation.

Two Parties
Choice in 1867 federal election: Conservatives 50%. Liberals 49%.

74.2
Percentage of Canadians who voted in 1935 federal election: mid-Great Depression.

75.3
Percentage of Canadians who voted in 1945 federal election: end of Second World War.

79.4
Percentage of Canadians who voted in 1958 federal election: John Diefenbaker’s Conservative government secured one of largest majorities in Canadian history.

75.7
Percentage of Canadians who voted in 1968 federal election: Trudeaumania.

75.3
Percentage of Canadians who voted in1988 federal election: free trade.

Five Parties
Choice in the 2008 federal election: Conservative, Liberals, NDP, Bloc, Greens.

58.8
Percentage of Canadians who voted in the 2008 federal election. Historical low.

Fast Facts: Literacy, Women and Poverty

Fast Facts: Literacy, Women and Poverty

 Here's a highlight:
"A deeper analysis reveals that many of the women living with lower levels of literacy and low incomes are also single parents. If 42.5% of Manitoba’s social assistance recipients are single parents, and 80% of single parents are single mothers, then it can reasonably be assumed that single mothers would constitute an important target group for improving provincial literacy levels, both in the short term and in the long term. Not only might an important segment of Manitoba’s population be able to attend properly-designed literacy programming, but invaluable educational foundations would be laid for the next generation."

100 Reasons NOT to support Stephen Harper

http://whystopharper.blogspot.com/

This website will focus on the more than 100 reasons that Canadian voters should not support Stephen Harper's Conservative Party in the next election.

Excerpt:
The government drastically cut funding for Status of Women Canada and even took the word “equality” out of its mandate. He has eroded pay equity, calling it “a rip off.” In spite of the fact that the House of Commons has been calling for a comprehensive national strategy to combat violence against women since 2008, the government has failed to act.


More Recommended Reading:

http://www.stopharper.org/

LATEST FACT :80% of Canadians accept the science on climate change. 65% of Canadians want the government to do something about it. Harper’s Tories have cut climate change funding by 59%.

Ontario: February 2011 OW/ODSP caseloads

From:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net

Below, you'll find links to the statistical reports for both of Ontario's social assistance programs, along with an analysis of the caseload trends by John Stapleton, who is a former official with the Ontario ministry responsible for social assistance programs now working with the social advocacy community in Toronto.

The reports:
Commentary by John Stapleton:
Social assistance dependency is already starting to moderate in Ontario, but entirely thanks to the newest and most profound long term trend we have seen in social assistance in many a decade. Although the count of social assistance households is only down by about 300 overall, the drop is almost entirely due to a reduction in lone parents and their children.

The combination of child support guidelines, better enforcement of child support, the advent of DNA evidence for use in paternity cases, large child benefits outside of welfare that stack with child support and better opportunities at the low end of the labour market for women, has made a real difference.

Once again, lone parents on social assistance - despite the recession - are closing in on multi-decade lows in both absolute numbers and even longer as a proportion of population.

From a communications perspective, it is always difficult to point out that the number of social assistance households is rising but the number of beneficiaries (men, women, and children) is going down. The number of households overall went up by about 700, but the total number of beneficiaries went down by 300. This occurs because families with 2+ beneficiaries are decreasing while singles with 1 beneficiary (by definition) are increasing.

Source:
John Stapleton
Open Policy - John's personal website
NOTE: The above analysis is not yet on John's website, but you can peruse dozens of his articles, commentaries and reports there.

Unique report outlines perils of living on street

An article from the Winnipeg Free Press
April 6, 2011

Reliance on charity-based shelters means the root of the problem goes unaddressed.
The Winnipeg Street Health Report, conducted for the Main Street Project, makes a strong case for a new strategy -- public investment in a "housing first" model used in other jurisdictions.


Some highlights:
According to the survey, homeless Winnipeggers are:
  • Twenty times as likely to have hepatitis C
  • Eight times as likely to have epilepsy
  • Six times as likely to have angina
  • Five times as likely to have migraine headaches
  • Three times as likely to have a heart attack
Homeless women:
  • 46 per cent said they were physically assaulted in the past year
  • 40 per cent felt unsafe in emergency shelters
  • 15 per cent reported having a baby while homeless
-- source: Winnipeg Street Health Report, 2011

Winnipeg Street Health Report, 2011 is a 48 page downloadable document.
Main Street Project - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Take Action! Oppose the proposed “Conditional Permanent Residence” for sponsored spouses

Canadian Council for Refugees

Citizenship and Immigration Canada published on March 26, 2011 a notice proposing that some sponsored spouses have only “conditional” permanent residence for two years or more.

Citizenship and ImmigrationCanada (CIC) is asking for comments on their proposal. They must be submitted by Monday April 25th. The CCR encourages organizations  to comment on this proposed change, which would be a big step backwards in Canadian immigration policy, and would be detrimental to the equality, safety and protection in particular of women and children.

Take action!
  • Send your comments on the notice to Citizenship and Immigration Canada by Monday April 25th (to Justine Akman, mailto:justine.akman%40cic.gc.ca – see details at http://bit.ly/fIhvWx
  • Make the concerns known in the public and through the media.
  • Contact the CCR if you would like to discuss developing a joint strategy to oppose this proposal (for example a joint statement signed by many organizations?).  Email marisa@ccrweb.ca.

Take a look at the election questions while you're on the CCR website.

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Researchers say: "All political parties ignoring poverty"

From CBC News:

All political parties ignoring poverty: researchers




Need a Break from all the Attack Ads??

Isadore Houlihan despises all you love

By Roger Collier, The Ottawa Citizen

You can take a swing by Roger's website to read some of his other funny essays.

And since we're on the topic of political attack ads, check out http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/who-attackads/ to see 10 attack ads that WORKED!

And you can see some of those ads at http://this.org/blog/2011/03/09/attack-ads-canada/ including this new one from the Green Party.  AH!  Nothing like a little mudslinging at a little mudslinging!  Enjoy:

How to wipe out seniors' poverty

 How to Wipe Out Seniors' Poverty, No Charge

A very interesting article posted April 2nd by Armine Yalnizyan, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Here's a quote:

"Today 5.8 per cent of Canadians aged 65 and older are living in poverty. With rising energy and food prices, a little more cash would be very welcome in these households.

The shocking truth is we could get rid of poverty among seniors, if we want.
...
In a nation as affluent as ours, seniors’ poverty doesn’t have to exist at all. Based on what seniors already get out of public policy, we can afford to help. We don’t have to spend more. We just have to spend it differently."

Public Legal Education Webinars

http://www.cleonet.ca/training/most_viewed_webinars

I'm amazed by the number and variety of webinars available for viewing at CLEO! There is something on this list for everyone: