“The federal government has an important role to play in reducing poverty in Canada,” according to the Commons HUMA committee in an important new report Federal Poverty Reduction Plan: Working in Partnership Towards Reducing Poverty in Canada. The HUMA (Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities) […]
Archives for November 2010
Hidden emergency: Poor housing leading to poor health for many Canadians
Precarious housing is a ‘hidden emergency’ that is affecting the health of a large number of Canadians, and the population health of the entire nation, according to a powerful new research report from the Health and Housing in Transition Study (HHiT). “The number of people experiencing the devastating health outcomes associated with inadequate housing could be staggering […]
Continue ReadingHidden emergency: Poor housing leading to poor health for many Canadians
Commons wraps third reading debate on national housing bill as NDP, Lib, Bloc all back C-304
Good news: Another step forward in the campaign to create a comprehensive affordable housing plan for Canada. The House of Commons has wrapped up debate on the third, and final, reading of Bill C-304 – a private member’s bill from MP Libby Davies that would require the federal government to create a comprehensive national housing […]
Presentation: International housing rights a powerful tool to secure good homes for all
International housing rights can be a powerful tool to identify housing issues and practical solutions, engage communities and leverage solutions. The Wellesley Institute presentation to the 2010 National Association of Housing and Renewal Organization national affordable housing conference sets out issues and strategies, and our information sheet provides on-line links to additional resources.
Canada inching closer to national housing plan as Commons' vote looms
Canada is inching closer to a long overdue and much-needed national affordable housing plan. Bill C-304, draft legislation to create a national plan that was proposed by Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East, is back for the second round of debate on third reading on Nov. 18. Then the Commons is scheduled to vote on […]
Continue ReadingCanada inching closer to national housing plan as Commons' vote looms
Feds confirm three-year homeless funding extension; freeze dollars at 1999 level
The federal government has officially confirmed $134.8m annual funding for the national homelessness program over the next three years. In September of 2008, the feds promised to extend the funding for five years, but said they would review funding practices at year two (fiscal 2010), so the decision to honour the 2008 promise is good news. Human Resources […]
Continue ReadingFeds confirm three-year homeless funding extension; freeze dollars at 1999 level
Book launch: Persistent Poverty – Voices from the Margins, Dec 2
Persistent Poverty, Voices from the Margins documents the real lives of some of the poorest people living in one of the richest places in the world – people living on welfare in Ontario. It’s the third in a series from the InterFaith Social Assistance Review Committee and the stories are drawn from a tour of […]
Continue ReadingBook launch: Persistent Poverty – Voices from the Margins, Dec 2
More than three million Canadians forced to live in poverty: 2010 child and family poverty report card
About one-in-ten Canadians – more than three million people – are living in poverty, and that is having a devastating impact on their health. Those are some of the findings of the 2010 report card on child and family poverty in Canada, released earlier today. Deep and persistent poverty is one factor that is driving […]
Maytree’s Alan Broadbent: Canada’s urban areas need more power, autonomy
Canada is an urban nation – 80% of Canadians now live in urban areas, a big change from our founding in 1867 when 80% of Canadians were in rural areas. But while the nation has changed, our governing structures remain stuck in the 19th century. Municipalities are, according to the Constitution, “creatures of the provinces” – […]
Continue ReadingMaytree’s Alan Broadbent: Canada’s urban areas need more power, autonomy
Ontario introduces draft legislation to replace Social Housing Reform Act, allow secondary suites
The Ontario government has moved quickly to introduce draft legislation to replace the Social Housing Reform Act yesterday, tabling Bill 140 in the Legislature on the same day that it announced its proposed new provincial affordable housing plan. The new legislation weighs in at more than 90 pages, so it will take some time to work […]