Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest: November 2019

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