The federal government’s Speech from the Throne, which was read on Wednesday afternoon in the House of Commons, was short on specifics, and even the generalities were less than sweeping.  And compared to some of our international partners, such as Australia and China, Canada’s federal government is coming up far short in responding to the global recession. Those countries recognize that the economic crisis is hurting people, and they are investing in policies and programs that help people, while our federal government is propping up the financial sector, even as it proclaims in today’s Throne Speech, that “our banks are among the strongest and best regulated in the world.”

Angel Gurría, the secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (the club of 30 of the richest economies in the world, including Canada) recently warned: “The current economic crisis demands tough decisions now, but it must not distract our attention from the other grave structural challenges that we confront.” Growing health inequities and growing housing insecurity are two of the biggest structural challenges facing Canada – and the Throne Speech was mostly silent on these issues, merely repeating previous announcements (which were very limited).

Canada's first ministers have had a preliminary meeting and they've agreed to work towards a massive investment in infrastructure to help respond to the current global economic crisis and also to improve bridges, transit and other necessary public works. The planned investments will generate jobs, other economic activity and will deliver real benefits to communities. It's a great first step.

Canada should follow the lead of China, which announced on Sunday that affordable housing investments will be a key part of the four trillion yuan ($586 billion) infrastructure investments by that government over the next two years. Chinese leaders know that, in terms of economic multipliers, public investment in housing delivers just about the biggest bang for the buck in terms of direct and induced jobs, other economic activity, and increased taxes back to government.

Here are five good reasons for Canada's first ministers to ramp up public investments in affordable housing as part of an overall economic stimulus package:

The Wellesley Institute is looking for a Communications Professional who would like to contribute to the growth of the Wellesley Institute. This position will best suit a highly motivated individual who is prepared to take the initiative to develop and implement communications programs which turn research and policy into action. The successful candidate must be able to work in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment with smart, highly productive, and experienced colleagues. This is the perfect opportunity for a take charge individual ready to build a best of class communications program through leading edge innovation.

For more information on the position and how to apply visit our Career Opportunities page.

Wellesley Institute is an equal opportunity employer. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Wellesley Institute
45 Charles St. E, Suite 101
Toronto, ON M4Y-1S2
Tel : (416) 972-1010 | Fax: (416) 921-7228
wellesleyinstitute.com | contact@wellesleyinstitute.com

On October 10, 2008, the federal government announced plans to buy $25 billion in mortgage-backed securities from banks. Four days later, the Bank of Canada announced plans to pump an additional $10 billion in liquidity into troubled financial markets.

That $35 billion in four days to bail out the financial sector is a lot of money. It’s not the first time the government or the central bank has provided big financial relief, and it likely won’t be the last. One estimate from late October put the total global bailout package from central banks and governments at US$4 trillion – that’s more than $5 trillion in Canadian dollars.

Here’s a comparison:

That $35 billion in just four days for the financial sector is about the same as the federal government spends over an entire year on health ($25.8 billion), education ($5.6 billion), labour, training and immigration ($2.1 billion) and housing ($2 billion) combined for all Canadians.

The sense of hope that is accompanying the election of Barack Obama to the U.S. Presidency is powerful and hard to resist. Like most people around the world, we here at the Wellesley Institute send our congratulations and best wishes to the President-elect.

The process of change, which came to be a powerful organizing theme of the Obama campaign, is important. Here at the Wellesley Institute, we say that government's don't start parades, they join them.

Mr. Obama himself said these words: "History teaches us... the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time."

For the positive, progressive, pragmatic change to truly sweep over Washington, the waves will have to start throughout the country and roll over the U.S. capital. Mr. Obama, with his background as a community organizer, understands this process of change.

With Mr. Obama's election, the real work of change is just beginning. 

The sense of hope that is accompanying the election of Barack Obama to the U.S. Presidency is powerful and hard to resist. Like most people around the world, we here at the Wellesley Institute send our congratulations and best wishes to the President-elect.

The process of change, which came to be a powerful organizing theme of the Obama campaign, is important. Here at the Wellesley Institute, we say that government's don't start parades, they join them.

Mr. Obama himself said these words: "History teaches us... the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time."

For the positive, progressive, pragmatic change to truly sweep over Washington, the waves will have to start throughout the country and roll over the U.S. capital. Mr. Obama, with his background as a community organizer, understands this process of change.

With Mr. Obama's election, the real work of change is just beginning. 

Research Associate Position at the WI

The Wellesley Institute is looking for an experienced researcher, if you wish to apply for this position please e-mail your résumé, covering letter, and contact information for three professional references to contact@wellesleyinstitute.com by 5pm, November 17th, 2008.

For more information on the position and how to apply visit our Career Opportunities page.

Wellesley Institute is an equal opportunity employer. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Wellesley Institute
45 Charles St. E, Suite 101
Toronto, ON  M4Y-1S2
Tel : (416) 972-1010 | Fax: (416) 921-7228
wellesleyinstitute.com | contact@wellesleyinstitute.com

Good news: The Ontario government, along with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the City of Toronto, jointly announced earlier today a plan to upload the costs of several provincial income assistance programs back to the provincial level over the next decade. This will give municipalities some significant fiscal breathing room – as it takes the cost of this income-distributive program off the municipal tax base and returns it to the provincial tax base, where it belongs. The timing is good as the demand for income assistance programs may well increase with the current economic crisis.

Bad news: The cost of the provincial social housing program – which was downloaded to municipalities under the former Harris government starting in 1998 – remains at the local level. Municipal taxpayers are responsible not only for the ongoing operating costs of much of the province’s affordable housing, but they are also liable for a long-term capital repair bill that has been estimated at $1 billion-plus.

Following hard on the heels of global, national and local research reports that confirm a deep and persistent health crisis, the Conference Board of Canada (an independent, national research organization) has released a health report card that ranks Canada as tenth among 17 major countries. “Increasing levels of mortality due to diabetes should be ringing alarm bells, not only among Canadian policy makers but also among the public,” says the Conference Board report. “Given the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, Canada must adopt a new business model for health care that focuses on both preventing and managing chronic disease.

But the Conference Board analysis fails to move beyond averages as it assesses ten health indicators. Yet, averages mask the terrible reality that virtually every health outcome is worse for lower-income people than for upper-income. The Conference Board has missed this important health reality – and that leads them to propose a policy solution that also misses the mark.