An editorial in the Moose Jaw Times Herald provides a compelling argument that a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy needs to be created for Saskatchewan.
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Almost a million Canadian kids in poverty is an acute emergency
Dr. Elizabeth Lee Ford-Jones: “Societal structures must change so that the lottery win of life doesn’t fall to only a small percentage of families”
Disability makes poverty likelier than ever: report
Toronto Star, September 25, 2014
Research about food bank utilization in the Greater Toronto Area suggests that being disabled is increasingly a trigger for poverty and hunger. In 2005, 17 per cent of food bank clients were receiving Ontario Disability Support Program benefits; the number has since almost doubled (28 per cent). The report suggests that allowances for disabled people are lagging behind the cost of living.
International Basic Income Week
September 15-21, 2014 is the 7th Annual International Basic Income Week. This week is an opportunity to raise awareness globally about basic income as a human right.
http://basicincomeweek.org/7th-international-basic-income-week/
New Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy
Realizing Our Potential: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (2014-2019) was released in September 2014. The new strategy includes sections focused on children & youth, homelessness, and employment. The document also acts as a reminder of the high cost of inaction; poverty cost the Ontario public $10.4 billion in 2008.
The strategy can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/home-and-community/realizing-our-potential-poverty-reduction-strategy-2014-2019
All of Us Are Paying for Government Inaction on Poverty
Inequity is rising in Canada. Did you know that the 86 richest families in Canada now hold more wealth than the poorest 11.4 million?
Poverty and inequities hurt all of us in the long run. They erode social cohesion and create a burden on all taxpayers to pay for poverty reduction, healthcare services, unemployment, crime and homelessness.
Full article by John Millar is available from the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/john-millar/poverty-measures_b_5656216.html
The CRA Should Not Define Poverty’s Threshold – Murtaza Haider
“The courts and the CRA must revisit their definitions of poverty, and perhaps consult with development economists who study the poor and poverty. The courts cannot be the sole arbitrator of how to define, measure, prevent and alleviate poverty. At the same time, the CRA may also not be the sole determinant of what constitutes charitable work.”
The complete article is available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/murtaza-haider/cra-poverty_b_5621872.html
New research about impact of poverty in Saskatoon Health Region
A new report by the Public Health Observatory of the Saskatoon Health Region discusses the need to address health inequities in the city. Residents living in lower-socioeconomic status neighbourhoods of Saskatoon tend to have lower life expectancies and poorer health (e.g. diabetes, injuries, and heart disease) compared to neighbourhoods with less deprivation. For example, people living in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the city have a life expectancy at birth of only 76 years, compared to 85 years in the most advantaged neighbourhoods. These health gaps have been persistent over the years.
Media article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/effects-of-poverty-in-saskatoon-are-illness-and-death-1.2685727
More information is available on the CommunityView Collaboration website: http://www.communityview.ca/infographic_SHR_health_equity_2014.html
Poverty Costs campaign calls for poverty reduction strategy
An exciting development in Saskatchewan – a new group adds to the calls for a poverty reduction strategy!
The following are some articles about the launch of the Poverty Costs campaign.
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The Poverty Costs website
http://pover-upstream.nationbuilder.com/
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Poverty Costs website launches
Staff ~ The Prince Albert Daily Herald
Published on March 09, 2014
http://www.paherald.sk.ca/News/Local/2014-03-09/article-3642878/Poverty-Costs-website-launches/1
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Coalition launches campaign to reduce poverty in Saskatchewan
By Aaron Streck
Coalition launches campaign to reduce poverty in Saskatchewan
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Poverty reduction strategy sought
By Betty Ann Adam, The StarPhoenix
March 11, 2014
http://www.leaderpost.com/business/Poverty+reduction+strategy+sought/9602784/story.html
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A Living Wage for Regina
A family of 4 with a children 4 and 7 years need $58,000 per year to live on. Minimum wage provides about $34,000. The graphics in the report tell the story. View entire report at .https://www.
Paul Gingrich, Simon Enoch, and Brian Banks worked on this document.
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A Living Wage for Regina is $16.46/per hour.
While Saskatchewan’s economy has outperformed the rest of the country for the past few years, many underserved groups have not benefitted from the province’s economic expansion. The adoption of a Living Wage by Saskatchewan municipalities and employers would offer a chance to more equally share the benefits of a booming economy. The income security derived from the Living Wage benefits not only workers, but their families as well, improving health and child development outcomes. Moreover, the Living Wage can be a boon to local business, drastically reducing absenteeism and employee turnover, enhancing brand reputation and customer loyalty and providing privileged access to a new market of Living Wage employers. Lastly, the Living Wage can improve the health of our local economies by injecting much-needed income into the hands of low-income earners who will immediately turn around and purchase local goods and services.
We know that the costs to adopt the Living Wage are negligible and are far outweighed by the positive impacts on our families, business and communities. Adopting a Living Wage is one way we can restore a measure of fairness and dignity to our economic system. We hope that this initial report on the Living Wage for the City of Regina can spark a successful Living Wage movement throughout Saskatchewan.
View the full release here:
https://www.
Simon Enoch, PhD
Director
CCPA Saskatchewan
G-2835 13th Avenue
Regina, SK
S4T 1N6
(306) 924 3372