A comprehensive new report by Gordon Laird for the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership, released today, puts the cost of homelessness in Canada at $49.5 billion over the past decade. The research study includes a number of important findings, including: – poverty is the leading cause of homelessness; – homelessness is on the […]
New British PM uses "h" word in maiden speech
The new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as he took office today, used the “h” word in his short (352 word), maiden speech as PM. He identified change with affordable housing as a priority of his administration. This is a significant recognition of the important role that the government plays in helping households access and […]
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Two days, two reports, two very different worlds
The World Wealth Report 2007 released on Wednesday by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini reports that the very rich (so-called high net worth individuals HNWI) are getting even richer. And the forecast is the extremely wealthy are going to get even richer due to their dominance of global capital markets, especially commercial real estate and real […]
Continue ReadingTwo days, two reports, two very different worlds
Wellesley update: Why all the fuss from realtors about TOs land transfer tax?
Torontos proposed land transfer tax, far from being a massive tax grab since it targets people who can least afford it (according to the Toronto Real Estate Board), in fact targets high-end properties, such as the typical Rosedale mansion that sells for $1.5 million, for the biggest bite. Torontos property market is becoming increasingly expensive, […]
Continue ReadingWellesley update: Why all the fuss from realtors about TOs land transfer tax?
Comprehensive poverty reduction plan for Ontario
Campaign 2000, the group working to end child poverty, released a comprehensive poverty reduction plan for Ontario at Queen’s Park today. The plan has four key elements: indicators for measuring poverty
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TD urges social investment for TO’s "deep pools of poverty"
Toronto and the surrouding Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are “a powerful economic locomotive which produces nearly one-fifth of the entire nation’s GDP”, along with many other economic advantages, according to a new report from TD Economics called “Canada’s Primary Economic Locomotive in Need of Repairs“.
Continue ReadingTD urges social investment for TO’s "deep pools of poverty"
Reality check: Correcting Minister Solberg's monetary musings…
Federal housing and homelessness minister Monte Solberg is keen to portray his government as generous and compassionate when it comes to those who are poorly housed or have no home at all. Here’s what Minister Monte Solberg had to say in a letter to the editor in the July 16, 2007, Toronto Star, in response […]
Continue ReadingReality check: Correcting Minister Solberg's monetary musings…
Family homelessness hits 20-year high in NYC
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2004 plan to cut homelessness in the Big Apple by two-thirds produced an almost immediate decline in the number of people in homeless shelters. But the latest numbers show a sharp upward spike to the highest number of homeless families in two decades. All the details are available from […]
Continue ReadingFamily homelessness hits 20-year high in NYC
Go big AND go home!
The new UK government of Gordon Brown announced on Monday that it will invest £8 billion (that’s more than $17 billion in Canadian dollars) over the next three years for new affordable homes. That’s a 50% increase over current housing spending and will fund about 70,000 new homes annually when the programme is fully rolled […]
Homelessness – coming to a region near you!
Homelessness – it's a problem just in the inner city, right? Wrong! And to prove it, the York Region Alliance to End Homelessness has just re-launched its web site with background info and action tips on homelessness for the region north of Toronto. Check it out here .