Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest - July/August 2020

Welcome to the July/August 2020 Edition of the Cities Reducing Poverty Policy Digest, which aims to provide you with timely poverty-related policy updates and resources from across Canada.  

Highlights: 

• Statistics Canada Data Perspective and Insights for a Better Canada 

• July Labour Force Survey 

• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan and promising new policies created  

• Survey on COVID-19 Impact to Canadians open, now inviting participation on Experiences of Discrimination from all Canadians  

• Survey to contribute to FCM’s Sustainable Procurement Barometer, a reference to evaluate the sustainability of procurement and identify potential for improvement within organizations, open until August 28 

• Canadian Black Policy Network, a network for opportunities to collectively develop innovative and sustainable solutions for policy issues affecting Canada’s Black communities, is launched 

National Policy Updates and Related Articles: 

• Government announces end of CERB and transition to EI by end of August 

• Federal Wage Subsidy  extended until December 

• Canada Childcare Benefit increasing again 

• Federal government announces more support for childcare for parents returning to work  

• National deficit soaring, leading to permanent change to the economy; Canada’s fiscal picture predicts $343 billion deficit – nearly 16% of the country’s GDP 

• CERB may be paving the way to a new national guaranteed basic income; survey shows Canadian interest in a universal basic income 

• The unique impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous businesses 

• Could shelter hotels be a model for addressing homelessness? 

• Food insecurity significant toll on healthcare system 

• As back to school looms, some parents forming private learning pods and critics warn of greater class divides

Policy Proposals and Campaigns 

• Groups call for CERB repayment amnesty 

• Report - Seven principles to align COVID-19 recovery with Canada's Climate Commitments 

• UBI Works campaign proposes $500 universal top-up to all Canadians plus a top-up to $2,000 as a guaranteed income to anyone who falls below this 

• Building Black Policy Networks: Toward Black inclusion in Canadian governance systems  

• National Recovery for All campaign to end homelessness continues; Proposals to Strengthen the National Housing Strategy and Homelessness 

Updates by Province and Territory:  

Alberta: 

• Getting Albertans back to work supportive initiatives  

• New DIY Kits Campaign launched by United Way Alberta to volunteer at home and help the community 

• Infrastructure investment boosts jobs and economy by spending in rural communities on local projects 

• Creating jobs and reducing emissions with technology 

• The Masks of Albertans provides 40 million non-medical masks 

• COVID-19 funding for First Nations colleges 

British Columbia: 

• Agreement from British Columbians of all political stripes - post-pandemic policy should lift vulnerable people out of poverty 

• Creation of first ever navigation centre to help people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver 

• New affordable homes for families and seniors 

• Service BC providing self-isolation check ins with a kind approach 

• Doors open at Royal Columbian’s mental health and substance abuse centre 

Manitoba: 

• • Province will spend $31.2 million this year to improve social housing units available to low-income Manitoban

  • Urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations get funding boost through Indigenous Community Support Fund, for care packages for vulnerable communities, increase mental health supports, educational supports for children and food security during this pandemic.

  • Government says a promised pay bonus for nearly 80,000 workers on the front lines 

New Brunswick: 

• Program launched to exemplary service by individuals during COVID-19 

• High school students of middle and low-income families can receive up to $600 each to purchase a laptop in preparation for the shift to tech-based learning 

• Provincial government supports plan Saint John neighbourhood 

Newfoundland and Labrador: 

• Government considers unlocking pensions for COVID relief 

• New mental health teams launching throughout Newfoundland and Labrador 

• Seafood Marketing and Innovation Fund to support expansion and create jobs 

• New mental health and addictions hospital being created  

Nova Scotia: 

• Nova Scotia opens new safe house for survivors of human trafficking 

• Invest Nova Scotia Fund invests $2 million to food, diversity and aerospace initiatives 

Northwest Territories: 

• COVID-19 Community Toolkit 

• Government announces new supports to help post-secondary students 

• New funding for early learning and childcare infrastructure 

• Mental Health project to improve care 

• Tracking and recovering for employees returning to workplace 

Nunavut: 

• Continues to be COVID-free, and carves a path forward with easing of restrictions

• Students head back to class amid new safety protocols 

• Federal government commits additional funding for essential flights to remote communities  

Ontario: 

• Ontario investing $150 million to bring all regions to national broadband speeds; telecommunication service providers, municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profits are invited to submit innovative proposals by August 21   

• Bill 184, the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, passed reading and royal assent to become law; eviction bans now lifted in Ontario 

• Ontario helping to protect communities against racism and hate  

• Ontario government is committing $3.3 million in cost-share funding through the Rural Economic Development Program to help rural and Indigenous communities diversify their economies, retain skilled workers, invest in local infrastructure and create jobs. 

• Province introduces measures to cap interest fees on payday loans

Prince Edward Island: 

• Health PEI creating jobs in preparation second wave of COVID-19 

• Islanders invited to share their innovative, bold and sustainable ideas to chart PEI's future for recovery and growth 

• Residents without primary healthcare provider will soon have access to virtual healthcare from home  

Québec: 

• A moratorium on evicting tenants during the coronavirus pandemic put in place in March has been lifted 

Saskatchewan: 

• Provincial government has lifted the eviction ban that protected tenants from losing their homes during the pandemic 

• More workers at healthcare facilities are now eligible for the province’s temporary wage supplement program; introduced to provide financial support to some workers helping vulnerable people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Yukon Territory: 

• Government conducting Community Wellbeing Survey as part of a territory-wide survey of wellbeing 

• Changes to federal infrastructure funds allow for COVID-19 flexibility

• Local company providing fresh food and tools  to grow it year round

The Latest Policy Resources and Perspectives: 

• Project Pandemic: Canada Reports on COVID-19 - Data mapping

First Policy Response:  

• Canada’s Policy Community Response to COVID-19 includes key topics: Income support for individuals, support for business, support for the community sector and support for the vulnerable  

Federation for Canadian Municipalities:

• COVID Municipal Hub features federal, provincial/territorial tools and resources for communities and businesses 

• Guide: Building Sustainable Communities with Asset Management  

Prosper Canada

• Financial Relief Navigator for people to help raise income or lower expenses

Maytree

• COVID-19 Resources and Responses 

• Five Good Ideas for Income Supports in a Post-CERB Canada 

• Engaging Lived and Living Expertise in COVID-19 Recovery Planning

Brookfield Institute

• Importance of accessible and inclusive public service tech

Broadbent Institute

• COVID-19 Resource and Response Centre 

• Solidarity in the Pandemic: Basic Income or Basic Services 

• Recovering from COVID with a green transition  

Wellesley Institute 

• Crowded housing and COVID-19: Impacts and Solutions 

• Housing and Health: the two go together 

• Pharmacare: essential to our health and economy  

Open Policy Ontario  

• Top 10 Questions on Poverty and Canada’s new Transitional Benefit and new EI Program

Centre for Policy Alternatives

• Alternative Federal Budget Recovery Plan 

Canadian Urban Institute  

• City Watch Canada tracks emergency measures put in place by local governments 

• City Share Canada crowdsourcing platform for tools, resources and stories

Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness  

• Homeless Sector Information Exchange Community Survey Results on COVID-19 and Homelessness