Category: Uncategorized

Defending Social Programs for a Stronger Canada

Defending Social Programs for a Stronger Canada

OTTAWA, March 27, 2013 – The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) today launched www.defendingsocialprograms.ca to draw attention to the Canadian Social Transfer and its potential to address Canada’s growing income inequality gap with accountable investments in the social determinants of health.

The Canadian Social Transfer is the primary source of federal funding in Canada that supports provincial and territorial social programs. At present, the Canadian Social Transfer is largely an unconditional transfer which has no agreed Principles of Accountability to ensure equity of social programs across Canada.

“Since 2006, the respective provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services have not met with their federal counterparts to share best practices and develop national strategies for investments in the social determinants of health” notes CASW President, Morel Caissie.

“It’s now time to put Canadians first and bring all parties involved in financing and delivering social programs together with renewed our commitment to human rights as enshrined in our Constitution.”

CASW is seriously concerned at the pace in which the Government of Canada is reshaping national social programs and services as well as with the unilateral renewal of the Canadian Social Transfer at 3% with no dialogue on accountability or impact.

“With the rules governing Canada’s equalization program and affordable housing agreements set to expire in 2014, the provincial, territorial and federal governments must seize the opportunity to proactively address the growing income inequity gap in Canada” notes CASW President, Morel Caissie.

CASW urges all Canadians to visit www.defendingsocialprograms.ca to send a message to your elected leaders to reinstate Principles of Accountability to the Canada Social Transfer and to work towards a national plan to address all social determinants of health for a stronger Canada.

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Canadian Association of Social Workers was founded in 1926 and has evolved into a national non-profit social work organization that promotes the profession of social work in Canada and advances social justice.

For further information:

Fred Phelps, Executive Director,  Canadian Association of Social Workers, Tel: 613-729-6668,  E-mail:  fred.phelps (at) casw-acts.ca

Adult education – essential in poverty reduction

This report was done by the British Columbia Teachers Federation. They are really emphasizing the issues of child poverty and its impacts on teaching and learning.

White, M. (2013). Adult education: An essential element in poverty reduction plan to improve economic opportunities for low-income individuals and families.

Retrieve from http://bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Publications/ResearchReports/RR2013-02.pdf

The Case For Raising The Minimum Wage

Although this is U.S. data it is still worthwhile posting on PFS just for the link to the studies that say increasing minimum wage does not kill jobs.

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 ZNet Daily Commentary:

The Case For Raising The Minimum Wage, By Sue Sturgis

Level to which President Obama called for increasing the federal minimum hourly wage in this week’s State of the Union address, while indexing it to rise automatically with inflation: $9

Current federal minimum hourly wage: $7.25

Annual income of someone who works full-time at today’s minimum wage, with no vacation: $15,080

Amount to which that would increase under the president’s plan: $18,720

If the minimum hourly wage had kept pace with inflation since its real-value high in the late 1960s, level it would be at today: $10.56

Of the jobs lost during the recession, percentage that were in lower-wage occupations: 21

Of the jobs gained during the recovery, percentage that were in lower-wage occupations: 58

Number of workers who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage: 21 million

Portion of minimum-wage workers who are women: almost 2/3

Portion who are parents: 1/4

Percentage who are black: 14.2

Who are Hispanic: 23.6

Who are white: 56.1

Amount that a proposed 2012 hike in the minimum wage to $9.80 an hour would have increased Gross Domestic Product, which measures a nation’s standard of living: about $25 billion

Number of new jobs it would have created: 100,000

Number of states that set minimum wages higher than the federal standard: 19

Of those states, number in the South: 1*

Number of states that set minimum wages lower than the federal standard: 4

Of those states, number in the South: 2**

Number of states that index their minimum wage to inflation: 9

Of those states, number in the South: 1***

According to a 2012 survey, percentage of likely voters who support raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour and indexing it to inflation: 73

Percentage of Democrats who support such an increase: 91

Percentage of independents: 74

Percentage of Republicans: 50

Number of business leaders and small business owners who signed a statement supporting the last increase in the federal minimum wage in 2007: nearly 1,000

Number of studies that have found raising the minimum wage does not cause an increase in unemployment, as claimed by Republicans opposed to the president’s proposal: over 20

* Florida ($7.79/hour)

** Arkansas ($6.25.hour) and Georgia ($5.15/hour)

*** Florida

From: Z Net – The Spirit Of Resistance Lives

URL: http://www.zcommunications.org/the-case-for-raising-the-minimum-wage-by-sue-sturgis

 

 

 

 

Saskatchewan Social Services “From Dependence to Independence”

People interested in what the provincial government is doing concerning poverty should review the Saskatchewan Social Services document “From Dependence to Independence: Actions and Investments for Saskatchewan’s Most Vulnerable People”. Saskatchewan Social Services, Regina, Summer 2012. It provides “… an update on the services and initiatives we have supported, and will continue to support, to assist individuals and families who need a helping hand. … We are proud of the successes we have achieved, but realize there is much more to do, so that every person in Saskatchewan can enjoy our shared bright future.”

Sask & Other Provinces

Canada Without Poverty lists work being done in Canada to address poverty. Poverty Progress Profile Scroll down the page to see where Saskatchewan is listed. If you click on Saskatchewan there is a discussion of the Saskatchewan government’s document “From Dependence to Independence” and content related to the work of Poverty Free Saskatchewan.

Media attention shows concern for poverty

The PFS report Communities Respond has received considerable media attention, showing the importance this issue has in the public eye.

Included in CBC TV 6:00 PM news.

CKOM – Saskatoon coverage. http://www.newstalk650.com/story/organization-calls-province-wide-strategy-poverty/79515

Lead story on Global News http://www.globalregina.com/

Radio-Canada http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/saskatchewan/2012/10/15/003-pauvrete-rapport-saskatchewan.shtml

Regina Leader Post article – this article was on the Front page of the Leader Post today. http://www.leaderpost.com/Report+details+plan+tackle+poverty+Saskatchewan/7394120/story.html

Communities Respond – Report Released

The Communities Respond report was released by Poverty Free Saskatchewan today.

PFS Communities Respond – Highlights, Oct 15, 2012 final

PFS Communities Respond – Summary Report, Oct 15, 2012 final

Communities Respond documents the responses of participants in a series of public consultations held in 7 Saskatchewan locations in 2011 and 2012: North Battleford, Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon, Tisdale, Nipawin and Melfort.

More than 170 participants attending the regional discussions said that it is time to move ahead on addressing poverty. People from the communities emphasized that many Saskatchewan residents are suffering greatly from the effects of poverty and this is preventing them from fully participating in our province.  Participants also identified many concrete positive actions that can be taken.

The Communities Respond report outlines the input received from the community discussions. These ideas will be used in future to develop an integrated and comprehensive poverty elimination plan. This plan will be built on the results of the community consultations, and a review of successful strategies in other provinces and in local Saskatchewan communities.

The document release is part of events in Saskatchewan and around the world honouring the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which occurs on Oct 17.

Communities Respond – report on consultations

Poverty Free Saskatchewan : Press Conference

 Monday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m., Family Service Regina Boardroom, 2020 Halifax Street

 The press conference will mark the release of the Communities Respond research document which summarizes information from community consultations held across Saskatchewan in 2011 and 2012.

 The event is occurring at the start of Anti-Poverty Week, leading up to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17.

For more information, email PFS or call (306) 535-9570.