Yesterday, the Metcalf Foundation released an insightful report on the legislation governing migrant workers in Canada. The report’s starting point is that legal regulation of work can either create conditions of decent work and security or conditions of insecurity and exploitation. The report’s author, Fay Faraday, breaks the labour migration cycle into 6 steps from […]
A Better Budget for A Better City: What Ford can learn from Nenshi
The whole city has cause to reflect after last year’s budget process. From the Core Service Review to the all-night-meetings and subsequent cuts and ill-thought out fees for sports fields, last year’s city budget process fell short of what’s needed for better city building. We’ve released a new report that looks to Calgary, New York, Chicago […]
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Precarious work, health and income inequality
This morning, the Law Commission of Ontario released draft recommendations on how to reform the Employment Standards Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, in its interim report on Vulnerable Workers and Precarious Work. The report provides a valuable overview of precarious work in Ontario, including that 22 percent, or more than 1 in […]
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Hardship Fund is safe… but for how long?
Toronto woke to the good news this morning that the Hardship Fund has been reinstated. As we blogged yesterday, City staff had cut the fund – which provides essential medical supports to people who do not receive social assistance, but who have very low or precarious incomes – as of July 1 because a new […]
Bill 77 Fairness For Employees Act: A Submission To The Standing Committee On Regulation And Private Bills
Addressing increased inequality in Ontario is a major public policy challenge. No one policy intervention on its own will be sufficient. Increasing access to unionization for Ontarians is a step in the right direction. The proposed amendments to the OLRA are very modest. They will not require increased government expenditures. These amendments do, however, have […]
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Small steps are good, but services, jobs and equality are best for all
This afternoon an agreement was reached on the Ontario budget. Three major changes have been made: the introduction of a temporary increase in taxes for Ontarians earning more than $500,000 per year, an increase in rates for people who are surviving on social assistance, and increased funding for child care. It’s important to pause for […]
Continue ReadingSmall steps are good, but services, jobs and equality are best for all
Ontario Budget 2012: Duncan chooses path that hurts the poorest Ontarians
In the lead up to the Ontario budget, the Wellesley Institute asked whether Minister Duncan would choose a road of fiscal prudence, or whether he would adopt the austerity agenda of his opponents. Today he chose the austerity agenda. In his speech today, Minister Duncan said that we all have to play our part to […]
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The Alternative Federal Budget: A comprehensive program to reduce poverty and address income inequality
The Alternative Federal Budget, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), provides a different vision from the austerity doctrine that is gripping governments in Ottawa and elsewhere. The Alternative Federal Budget goes beyond rejecting an austerity agenda as a response to Canada’s slow climb out of recession. It presents a comprehensive program […]
Ontario Budget 2012: Will The Budget Avoid Harm To Children, Low-Income Ontarians, And Women?
Budgets are always complex balancing acts, however the task facing Minister Dwight Duncan this year is particularly daunting. The short-term impact of budget decisions on financial market sentiment, financing costs, and economic performance only scratches the surface of the decisions he faces. This budget raises more fundamental questions. Will he embark on a road of […]
Continue ReadingOntario Budget 2012: Will The Budget Avoid Harm To Children, Low-Income Ontarians, And Women? Download PublicationOntario Budget 2012: Austerity Is Bad For Our Health
Austerity is bad for your health
The Ontario government is expected to release the Drummond Commission report shortly. That report that is expected to substantially shape Ontario’s fiscal plan going forward. Don Drummond was appointed to provide the Ontario government with a plan to reduce the deficit. He has indicated that drastic cuts to budgets will be needed, and that he will recommend privatization of […]