The British Parliament has just passed the UK Equality Bill, and it’s on the way to the Queen for royal assent. Among other new responsibilities, the new legislation creates a new public sector duty to reduce socio-economic inequalities.
Adopt Bill C-304 – national groups urge Parliament
National housing / homelessness groups issued a media release today calling on Parliament to adopt Bill C-304, draft legislation to create a national housing plan for Canada.
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'Right to housing' legal challenge launched today
Everyone in Canada has the right to a home – and the federal government has a responsibility to realize that right. That’s the basis of a legal challenge launched today by a coalition of housing and legal advocates. The Wellesley Institute is providing policy support to the new coalition, including expert evidence on funding and legislative decisions by […]
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Commissioner of Housing Equity needed for TCHC tenants: Justice LeSage
Toronto Community Housing Company should create an independent Commissioner of Housing Equity to ensure that tenants facing eviction receive a fair process. That’s one of the key recommendations from the LeSage Review, which was appointed to inquire into the death of Al Gosling, a TCHC tenant who died after being evicted from the City of […]
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National housing plan bill (C-304) set for final debate starting Oct. 20
Draft national legislation to create a comprehensive housing plan for Canada – Bill C-304 – is scheduled to go back to the Commons for the start of third (and final) reading debate on October 20. The bill, proposed by Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, was passed on first and second reading with the support of […]
Continue ReadingNational housing plan bill (C-304) set for final debate starting Oct. 20
Homeless youth face high levels of physical, sexual violence: New research
A devastating 76% of homeless youth report being victims of physical or sexual violence in a powerful new research report released today. Most of them – almost 73% – say that they were victimized more than once. Young women experience a higher rate of violence; but both male and female youth have little or no way to […]
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Great news: National housing act bill (C-304) moves big step closer to law
Great news! Third reading debate on Bill C-304 – draft legislation to create a national housing plan for Canada – started on Wednesday evening in Parliament, and three of the four political parties in the Commons have pledged their support. Vancouver East MP Libby Davies, sponsor of the bill, told her fellow MPs: “This bill […]
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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 […]
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Scaffolding up, but lots of work still needed before Ontario finishes building its housing plan
The Ontario government has put up the scaffolding for a long-term affordable housing strategy, but there’s plenty of unfinished business for Queen’s Park as it seeks to build a truly comprehensive plan to ensure everyone has access to a healthy, affordable home. There are no targets, timelines and no new housing investments. After six months […]
Current Welfare Rules Create Perfect Trap: Powerful New Report
A powerful, new report from the National Council of Welfare shows that welfare can be harder to get today than 20 years ago. This means more people were forced into destitution to qualify for welfare in 2009, when the recession’s casualties were mounting. NCW Chairperson John Rook explained that the current set of welfare rules […]
Continue ReadingCurrent Welfare Rules Create Perfect Trap: Powerful New Report