Welcome to the November 2019 edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada.
I've tried my best to include the most recent policy highlights. If there are others that I may have missed please feel free to send me an email at elle@tamarackcommunity.ca
Here are some of our November policy highlights:
- Canadians headed to polls on October 21st and elected Liberals once again but lose popular vote to Conservatives; 66% of eligible Canadians voted
- What the new minority government means for Canadian pocketbooks and the economy
National Policy Updates:
- Federal Election 2019: Liberals win strong minority but lose popular vote to Conservatives
- Election by the numbers: 66% of eligible Canadian voters cast a ballot
- Child poverty by federal ridings show the House of Commons’ pledge to end poverty by 2000 is far behind, reported by Campaign 2000
- Canada needs to catch up on new progressive economic thinking
- Behind the numbers: analyzing the impact of a super-wealth tax
- To pay off or borrow more - a question facing many Canadians
- Canadian communities receive federal support to reduce their pollution, improve their resiliency to climate change and plan their local infrastructure with more than $2.5 million in investments
- Evaluation of Canada’s Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Prioritizing fundamental human rights can help us find the clarity we need for good public policy
- Study shows Canada Child Benefit helped reduce number of families with severe food insecurity
Updates by Province and Territory:
Alberta:
- Petition call to support Alberta budget be developed with continued support for investments that reduce poverty
- Edmonton Social Planning Council provides a Provincial Budget Fact Sheet
- Alberta Child Benefit has proven itself as a poverty fighter
- Who gains and who loses in the new consolidated Alberta Child and Family Benefit
- 2019 Alberta Budget Analysis for Nonprofits
British Columbia:
- Applications open for local governments to apply for Child Care Space Creation Funding
- Province invests $2 million dollars in legal aid
- Province reaches milestone in universal child care plan
Manitoba:
- The conservatives shift into high gear away from radical incrementalism and progressive change to regressive incrementalism and more sweeping, negative reforms
- The Canadian Community Economic Development Network unveils Public Policy Road Map for Manitoba
New Brunswick:
- The Financial and Consumer Services Commission launches financial wellness challenge as part of Financial Literacy Month
Newfoundland and Labrador:
- On October 1st, Newfoundland and Labrador became the Canadian province with the second lowest minimum wage
Nova Scotia:
- Period Poverty Summit highlights accessibility issues
- Healthy Communities Grants strengthen public transportation
- Nova Scotian families to get access to free universal pre-primary programs for four-year-olds
Northwest Territories:
- Government releases its renewed Action Plan to end poverty: Working Together II
Nunavut:
- Government unites for World Mental Health Day
Ontario:
- Province rolls back planned changes to social assistance
- Ontario Child-Care Tax Credit to help only a few low-income families
- New report: cost of poverty in Ontario
- Free dental care for low-income seniors to be rolled out
- Ontario considering rent-to-own affordable housing program
- Province taking action to help communities fight the effects of climate change
Prince Edward Island:
- Poverty activists turn tables on door-knocking politicians
Québec:
- Province promotes community initiatives making Quebec a more inclusive and caring society during Solidarity Week
- Increases to child care exemption rates will help make child care more affordable for 5,600 low income families
Saskatchewan:
- Premier releases Saskatchewan's Growth Plan: the next Decade of growth 2020-2030, a roadmap for a strong economy, strong communities and strong families
- Saskatchewan farmers feel the effect of carbon tax after wet harvest
Yukon Territory:
- Living wage report says housing affordability in Yukon is a significant concern
The Latest Policy Resources and Perspectives:
- Maytree: Lessons from Ontario’s Basic Income Pilot
- Report: Welfare in Canada
- Housing Rights: Ottawa takes on an historic step forward
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: When it comes to gender equality, Canada has unfinished business
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities: the cost of climate adaptation
