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New Anti-Poverty Plan Released by Canada Without Poverty

Canada Without Poverty released a new national plan for ending poverty today. Dignity for All: A National Anti-Poverty Plan for Canada was developed after engaging and consulting communities.

The plan calls for the Federal Government to immediately take action to address both the immediate and long-term needs of the 1 in 7 Canadians who live in poverty.

The 6 areas addressed in the plan are:

Income security
Housing and homelessness
Health
Food security
Early childhood education and care, and
Jobs and employment

To read the plan, visit http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2015/02/wehaveaplan-but-do-they/

Social determinants need to be included in conversations about disease prevention -Raphael

This article is an opinion piece from the Hamilton Spector in 2014, but is still relevant. This thoughtful piece by Dr. Dennis Raphael discusses how current mainstream discourse about disease prevention (e.g. exclusive emphasis on lifestyle choices like tobacco cessation, exercise, etc.) ignores root causes such as poverty and poor working conditions. Raphael points out that “deprivation over the life course is strongly related to the incidence of such diverse afflictions as Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, emphysema, kidney and lung disease, osteoporosis, lupus and mental health problems such as depression and suicide.”

Link: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4405922-why-are-canadians-not-being-told-the-truth-about-disease-/

Oxfam report on income inequality

Oxfam released a report this January called Working for the Few: Political capture and economic inequality which showcases just how much of the world’s wealth is concentrated in the hands of the ultra-wealthy. Almost half (46%) of the world’s wealth is now owned by just one percent of the population. Although Canada was noted in the report to be a country with strong social mobility, inequality continues to rise in our country.

A link to the article and commentary can be found on the Canada Without Poverty website: http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2015/01/4-8-million-canadians-last-among-equals

Why one of Canada’s big banks is calling for greater income equality

Article by Dr. Ryan Meili in the Toronto Star.

The article discusses a recent report by TD Bank. The report raises alarms about the growing income gap in Canada and provides recommendations including calls for increased spending on affordable housing, early childhood development, and social services.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/12/19/why_one_of_canadas_big_banks_is_calling_for_greater_income_equality.html

1 in 7 Canadians Lived in Low-income Households in 2012: Stats Canada

According to recently released data from Statistics Canada, 4.7 million Canadians (13.8% of the population) were considered to be low-income in 2012. About one in six children in Canada (16.3%), lived in low-income households that year.

Note: it is difficult to make comparisons with previous years’ low-income statistics, because the 2012 reference year was the first for the new Canadian Income Survey, which used a different methodology than the previous income survey by Statistics Canada.

Link to news article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/nearly-5-million-canadians-in-low-income-status-2012-research-shows/article22020841/

CBC: Poverty strategy among items highlighted in Sask. throne speech

The October 22, 2014 speech from the throne at the Saskatchewan legislature highlighted that the provincial government will be developing a poverty reduction strategy.

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/poverty-strategy-among-items-highlighted-in-sask-throne-speech-1.2810266

CBC: Demand on Sask. food banks growing and widening

Usage of food banks in SK is up by 19 per cent across the province, from Mar. 2013 to Mar. 2014, according to Food Banks Canada. This article by the CBC showcases the story of a member of a growing group in the province: people with jobs who are unable to make ends meet.

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/demand-on-sask-food-banks-growing-and-widening-1.2860959

New Report: poverty costs the province of Saskatchewan $3.8 billion/year

A new report by the group, Poverty Costs, examines the current state of poverty in Saskatchewan and provides evidence for the need of a poverty reduction strategy.

To read the report and supplementary resources, please visit:

http://www.povertycosts.ca/resources

Yellen ‘Greatly’ Concerned by Widening Inequality in America – Bloomberg

The Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States reignited the debate about the widening income gap in the country during a recent speech in Boston.

“The past few decades of widening inequality can be summed up as significant income and wealth gains for those at the very top and stagnant living standards for the majority. It is appropriate to ask whether this trend is compatible with values rooted in our nation’s history.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-17/yellen-greatly-concerned-by-widening-inequality-in-america.html

Poverty Awareness Events in Regina October 2014

On Thursday, October 16th there will be a ‘Chew on This’ event in Regina as part of the national anti-poverty campaign. The goal is to raise awareness about the issue of poverty and hunger in Canada and to call for the creation of a national anti-poverty plan.

Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry and Poverty Free Saskatchewan are cosponsoring a press conference to be held at 10 am on Friday the 17th at the Heritage Community Centre in Regina. PFS will have a display and copies of our Communities Respond resource for anyone who is interested.