Today, October 17, is the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, is calling for a “Guaranteed Livable Income” in Canada. “The theme of the 2012 observance is ‘Ending the Violence of Extreme Poverty’.
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Accidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – Crawford Kilian talks to Ed Broadbent about the effect of increasing inequality and the prospect of changing course: On how quickly things could turn around: “I’d like to see a strategic plan. We can’t change overnight after 20 years. We could take
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: WTF, UBC? – University says it’s easier to cross picket lines with friends
Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Teaching Support Staff Union, COPE 378, and other unions are escalating job action at universities across British Columbia because of bargaining impasses and refusals on the parts of universities to budge on any items. Today, six unions engaged in job action
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Leadership 2013 Roundup
A few notes from the Saskatchewan NDP’s leadership campaign over the past few days… – Cam Broten’s supporters have been highlighting his statement of values, with his focus on long-term thinking offering a particularly noteworthy development if put into practice (while also setting up a noteworthy test for Broten on
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how Mitt Romney’s attacks on 47% of American voters is an all-too-natural consequence of rhetoric about taking citizens “off the tax rolls”. For further reading…– Chuck Marr and Chye-Ching Huang discuss the real tax rate faced by people who bring in less than the income-tax threshold here.– For
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Canada’s Poverty of Poverty Measurement
It isn’t just astounding to the average Canadian that their country doesn’t have an official poverty line, it’s astounding that no one, including the major political parties, is doing anything about it. Below are excerpts from governments, organizations, and charities that highlight the need for Canada to finally create an
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: Canada Is Missing The Poverty Line
Canada is holding out its hands asking for change, our country is in poverty and it needs our help. Where other countries are working to reduce their poverty like responsible world citizens, Canada is doing nothing. And worse yet it can’t even hope to lift itself out of poverty because
Continue readingknitnut.net: Ask Me Anything #2: Marigold’s Quandary
This question was sent by email from someone who prefers to remain anonymous, so we’ll call her Marigold. Marigold recently won an overnight stay for two at a local hotel, breakfast included, valued at $160. Marigold’s sole source of income is ODSP, which is Ontario’s social assistance plan for people
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: Imagine if the Olympics Really Benefited the People of the Host City
The London Olympics games closed with the words of “Imagine” by John Lennon and “Freedom” by George Michael. John Lennon sang “Imagine all the people living life in peace.” And then Eric Idle sang “Always look at the Bright Side of Life.” But what did the Olympic Games really bring
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Toby Sanger discusses how wealthy Canadians – especially in the financial sector – are making more and more use of offshore tax havens to avoid paying their fair share: The latest Statistics Canada figures show 24% of Canadian direct investment overseas in 2011
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: The Right Response to “No Job Is A Bad Job”
Last May federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said there was no such thing as a bad job. The Law Commission of Ontario may disagree. This week it put out a report about the rise in vulnerable workers and precarious jobs. Now that he’s heard from executives who think Canadians are
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: To address health inequalities, look beyond the role of individual responsibility
A new report by the Canadian Medical Association provides a timely reminder that money buys better health, even in a country with a universal public healthcare system. A poll commissioned by the CMA found a large and increasing gap between the health status of Canadians in lower income groups (household
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – David Olive comments on the world food crisis, making the point that what we’re lacking is some link between more-than-sufficient productive capacity and the nutritional needs of less wealthy people around the globe: (A) permanently higher price for oil spurred successful innovation to
Continue readingCanadian Progressive World: Statistics Canada: Crime rate reached its lowest level in 40 years in 2011
The evidence on the crime rate in Canada is out! Statistics Canada reported yesterday that rate of crimes reported to Canadian police forces across the country reached its lowest level last year. The incidents of serious crimes also dropped. By six per cent. That’s for most offences, including attempted murders,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – The Guardian reports on the Tax Justice Network’s study on offshoring which finds tens of trillions of dollars to have been funneled to tax havens: Using the BIS’s measure of “offshore deposits” – cash held outside the depositor’s home country – and
Continue reading350 or bust: TED Talk Thursday: How To Set Goals…For The World
Jamie Drummond co-founded the advocacy organization ONE (Bono is another co-founder), which is focused on ending extreme poverty and the AIDS epidemic. In this inspiring June 2012 TED Talk, Mr. Drummond discusses the UN Millennium Development Goals: In 2000, the UN laid out 8 goals to make the world better
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Lana Payne sees reason for hope in the sheer breadth of citizens who are protesting against the Harper Cons: Scientists. Doctors. Nuclear engineers. Academics. Researchers. Stephen Harper has a big problem. He has ticked them all off. And they are not suffering their
Continue reading350 or bust: TED Talk Thursday: Poverty, Crime, And Greenhouse Gas Emissions
From TEDx Manitoba is Shaun Loney, founder and Executive Director at BUILD Inc. and Warm Up Winnipeg where he leads an innovative approach to promote social enterprise as a no-cost way to cut poverty rates. In this talk, Mr. Loney makes surprising connections to poverty, crime and greenhouse gas emissions,
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, on how the most important labour reform Saskatchewan could pursue would be a guaranteed annual income that allows workers to plan for the long term rather than being stuck in low-income traps. For more on the Mincome project discussed in the column, see here and here. And anybody interested
Continue readingThe Scott Ross: America Falling Or World Rising
The United States’ influence is declining in the world, but there is at least one reason why Americans shouldn’t lament. It is not that the United States is falling behind but it is that the world is catching up. The weakening of America’s superiority may raise concern at home, but
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