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Featured News
Fare hike next stop for city transit
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 27, 2009)
The HSR wants to hike bus fares for the third time in as many years to make up for lower ridership and increased costs.
The city's transit system is facing a $1.6-million loss this year and a predicted $3.4-million shortfall next year.
Council will be presented with two options to help recoup costs at a special meeting on Thursday: a 10-cent increase, which would bump monthly passes to $84, or a 20-cent increase, which would hike passes to $88.
Pre-paid tickets would go up to $1.95 or $2.05 from $1.85, while fares paid on the bus would grow to $2.50 or $2.60 from $2.40.
If approved, the hike would go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.
Don Hull, the city's director of transit, said a 10-cent hike would get the city "back on track" after this year's losses.
However, his department will face a predicted $2.1-million increase in expenditures and a $1.3-million loss in revenue in 2010.
"We've never been here before," Hull said. "The impact of the recession on this city has been very, very severe."
Council is also considering other options to cut costs and boost revenue, including extending advertising into the Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System (DARTS) fleet and purchasing diesel buses instead of more costly hybrid buses.
Peter Hutton of the Hamilton Transit Users Group said the working poor will be the hardest hit by any fare hike.
"Those who absolutely need to use public transit 10 to 15 times a week are going to be paying this price on ticket and cash fare," he said.
The debate over transit fares is a familiar one in Hamilton. In January 2008, HSR riders were hit with a 15-cent hike. That was only a few months after fares were raised to $2.25 from $2.10 in June 2007.
Last November, council rejected a 10-cent fare increase after a tie vote maintained the status quo.
Councillor Tom Jackson, who voted in favour of the hike last year, said 10 cents is a reasonable increase, but he would be "leery" of raising fares by 20 cents.
"I think a dime is more than reasonable," he said.
But Councillor Sam Merulla, who has advocated for free transit, said any fare hike is misguided.
"There is a direct correlation between increased transit fares and decreased ridership," he said. "You're just contributing to your own net revenue going down."
Hutton said he's "extremely disappointed" that council is considering another hike.
"It's not in line with the city's strategic goals. It's in line with its fiscal goals," he said.
Single-ride adult transit fares: How Hamilton measures up
Brantford: $2.25
Hamilton: $2.40
Guelph: $2.50
London: $2.75
Toronto: $2.75
Mississauga: $3.00
Hamilton's bus fees:
2003 - May 2007
Fare: $2.10
Ticket: $1.70
Monthly pass: $65
June 2007 - December 2007
Fare: $2.25
Ticket: $1.75
Monthly pass: $71
Jan 2008 - present
Fare: $2.40
Ticket: $1.85
Monthly fares: $79
Proposed hike for 2010:
Fare: $2.50 or $2.60
Ticket: $1.95 or $2.05
Monthly pass: $84 or $88
ereilly@thespec.com
905-526-2452
Research and Resources
The Cost of Basic Nutritious Food FLYER
Many people in Hamilton with a limited income often face the daunting task of choosing between eating well or paying the rent to survive. The increasing cost of living, blaanced against the low-income of many individuals and families living on minimum wage or social assistance, does not leave enough money to buy food. The following report discusses the cost of nutritious food, the ways that people cope with a limited income, and some suggestions on how to improve food access in Hamilton.
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Meetings and Events
Dignity For All FLYER
Dignity For All - A Community Meeting on Addressing Poverty in Hamilton
Poverty is a direct threat to the health and well-being of people in our community. Hamilton area nurses warmly invite our fellow community members to attend an evening of lively discussion and possibillities for action at this event
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SHATTERED BY CITIZENS ACROSS GLOBE DEMANDING THAT THEIR LEADERS END POVERTY
More than 173 Million People Gather at "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!" events, setting new world record for largest mobilization in history!
A Guinness World Record shattered this weekend when 173,045,325 citizens gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries, demanding that their governments eradicate extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!", now in its fourth year, has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest mobilization of human beings in recorded history, an increase of about 57 million people over last year.
"The more than 173 million people who mobilized this weekend sent a clear message to world leaders that there is massive, universal, global demand for eradicating poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals," said Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. "In particular, we have seen citizens determined to show their governments that they will hold them accountable for keeping their promises to end hunger, improve maternal health and abolish trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. They will not accept excuses for breaking promises to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people, who have already been hardest hit by the global food, economic and climate crises they had no role in causing."
In Asia more than 100 million people participated (101,106,845); in Africa more than 37 million people participated (37,848,412); in the Arab region more than 31 million people participated (31,394,459); in Europe more than 2 million people participated (2,102,121); in Latin America more than 200,000 people participated (229,371); in North America nearly 200,000 people participated (191,535); and in Oceania more than 170,000 people participated (172,582).
"Stand Up is proven to be a growing global mobilization, as well as an ongoing grass roots movement from remote areas and cities in so many countries, both rich and poor," said Sylvia Borren, Co-chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP), who attended several "Stand Up" events across The Netherlands last weekend. "These are the voices of young people, women and men demanding the eradication of poverty, and new answers to the food, economic and climate crises. We will carry this overwhelming message forward in the weeks and months ahead to influence both the Copenhagen climate discussions and next year's MDG review."
Currently 1 billion people around the world are hungry and 500,000 women continue to die annually as the result of pregnancy and childbirth. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable.
The mobilization was organized globally by the United Nations Millennium Campaign, in partnership with a range of organizations including the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP).
The 3,000 events across every inhabited continent this weekend included:
In New York, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon lead schoolchildren in Standing Up on Friday.
In Bangladesh, civil society campaigners raised the call "National Unity Can Eradicate Poverty," urging that a "Poverty and Hunger Free Bangladesh is Possible Now." The Prime Minister led the nation in pledging to remain united to develop the country by 2020. At a rally in Dhaka, she called upon all political parties to jointly fight corruption and stabilize democracy.
Despite the typhoons that hit the Philippines just before "Stand Up," 35.5 million people in the country Stood Up and the "I Vote for MDGs" campaign, a survey on the issues voters believe should be prioritized by the 2010 Presidential candidates, was launched.
In Nepal the President read a Stand Up Pledge with members of the Constituent assembly at an event broadcast live on national television, followed by a concert in a large open-air theatre in the heart of Kathmandu.
In the United States, the Irish band U2 brought 50,000 concertgoers to their feet for a "Stand Up" moment during their October 18 concert in Norman, Oklahoma.
From Cape Town to Cairo and from Accra to Kampala, millions of Africans stood up in churches, mosques, schools, markets, streets and work places to call on their leaders to end poverty and inequality. In Uganda, the Local Government Association joined "Stand Up" by launching a historic award to honor the best-performing local government. The inaugural award was presented to the Kasese District.
In South Africa, housemates on the hit television show "Big Brother" made passionate appeals to world leaders to end poverty and led the continent in reading the "Stand Up" pledge, collected food for disadvantaged children and wrote a song on poverty. They called on African leaders to stop maternal death, end hunger and address climate change.
In Nigeria, legendary African artist Femi Kuti led over 60,000 people attending the annual event commemorating the life of his late father Fela Kuti, in pledging their commitment to campaigning fervently against poverty and injustice. Femi urged participants at the festival to be bold when holding their governments accountable, noting that Africa has enough resources to end poverty. Accusing African leaders of mismanaging public resources through corruption and poor governance, he called on them to focus more attention on programs leading to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
At Federation Square, Melbourne, a concert organized by Make Poverty History Australia and AusAID included a flash mob stunt and performances by entertainers including Diafrix, a musical group of African refugees.
Citizens of Papua New Guinea Stood Up for the first time this year, in churches and government buildings, with support from the government Department of Community Development.
In Halifax, Canada, citizens marched against poverty in a rally organized by Make Poverty History.
In Italy, more than 400,000 people participated in 200 sports events across the country. The people of L'Aquila, which was hit by a devastating earthquake in April, ran a marathon to show their support.
In Paris, the streets were invaded by 4,000 roller-bladers on Sunday proudly sporting 'Stand Up, Take Action, End Poverty Now!' t-shirts.
In Spain, coordinated marches nationwide included a rally in Madrid on October 16 which was followed by an outdoor concert featuring Spanish rock bands.
Peru was one of several countries which used "Stand Up" to start a process of climate justice hearings aimed at gathering the testimonies of people whose lives and livelihoods are being destroyed by global warming.
"Stand Up" was also supported by the entire United Nations system, with events organized by United Nations Information Centers (UNICs) across the globe. In Egypt, for example, 25 million worshippers Stood Up in mosques, more than 2 million worshippers Stood Up in Coptic Orthodox churches and thousands more Stood Up in schools across the country, in a mobilization organized by the UNIC in Egypt.
Hundreds of people gathered on October 16 at the International Labor Organisation (ILO) headquarters in Geneva to Stand Up Against Poverty in a joint action with UNDP and UN agencies, led by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia.
For more information, photos and b-roll contact:
Kara Alaimo
United Nations Millennium Campaign
Kara.Alaimo@undp.org
Telephone: +1 212-906-6399
Ciara O'Sullivan
Global Call to Action Against Poverty
Ciara.osullivan@whiteband.org
Telephone: +34 679 594 809
About the Campaigns:
The UN Millennium Campaign was established by the UN Secretary General in 2002. The Campaign supports citizens' efforts to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Millennium Development Goals were adopted by 189 world leaders from rich and poor countries, as part of the Millennium Declaration which was signed in 2000. These leaders agreed to achieve the Goals by 2015. Our premise is simple: we are the first generation that can end poverty and we refuse to miss this opportunity. For more information, visit www.endpoverty2015.org.
The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is a civil society alliance of social movements, international NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women's organizations, faith and youth groups, local associations and campaigners working together across more than 100 national coalitions/platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world's leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of public accountability, just governance and the fulfillment of human rights; trade justice; more and better aid; debt cancellation; climate justice; peace and security as well as gender equality and women's rights. For more information, visit www.whiteband.org.
www.StandAgainstPoverty.org
Disability Declaration FLYER
The ODSP Action Coalition calls on the Ontario government to recognize the rights of people with disabilities—by making critical changes to ODSP
People with disabilities have basic human rights. Respecting, protecting, and fulfilling these rights should be the basis for all government programs or services for people with disabilities.
In good economic times, people with disabilities are told that our needs, priorities, hopes and dreams have to wait. But in bad economic times, we are told there isn’t enough money in the system to accommodate us. People with disabilities won’t wait any longer. We demand that our government respect, protect, and fulfill our rights — by making the following improvements to ODSP right now.
No relief in sight this Thanksgiving FLYER
Thanksgiving is a time to remember that everyone should have enough food to eat - if not to celebrate with an abundant meal, at the very least to meet the minimum requirements for health and dignity.
But data released from a new website shows what too many people lining up at food banks this Thanksgiving already know; social assistance in Ontario does not add up.
Food Banks Under Increasing Pressure
Donations down in many parts of Canada
October 06, 2009
Anne-Marie Tobin
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — The economic downturn has forced more Canadians to turn to food banks and feeding programs, says a new report from the Salvation Army.
The organization, billed as the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in Canada, has more than 275 food banks and feeding programs across the country.
A survey of staff across the country found that 72 per cent of respondents said demand for food services has increased during the last 12 months. About 40 per cent said food donations have declined, while 23 per cent noted an increase, according to results released today. Almost 24 per cent said donations had remained the same.
"Everything that’s coming in is immediately getting packed into food packages to give out to families as they’re coming through," said Linda Wilson, a frontline Salvation Army worker in Windsor, Ont., which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.
"It’s a little bit frightening for us to think about how we’re going to meet the need, and we don’t see anything changing anytime soon."
She has seen a 25 per cent increase in demand for services — and there are 18 other food banks in Windsor.
Wilson described a young mother who brought a three-year-old toddler and a baby to the front desk last week, and asked if there was something for her older child to eat.
"She didn’t have any food at the house for the toddler, and also the baby had no diapers and formula," Wilson said. "To see that little child standing in front of me so innocently and this young mom just absolutely desperate, that just, sort of, is the face of what we see."
The woman did have basic social assistance, but no means of transportation.
"(She had) walked a long distance with a stroller and this little three-year-old had to trail behind her mom and walk all that way," Wilson said.
They were provided with diapers, formula, non-perishable food and a double-stroller that Wilson managed to get from a neighbour with twins who no longer needed it.
"So it was a small thing, but it was everything to me, to see their faces, and I was just so thankful that we were able to do that."
Salvation Army isn’t the only provider of services seeing greater demand.
The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank said it has seen a 40 per cent rise in demand since September 2008, going from 89,000 to 124,000 clients.
"The need is up, certainly, but we do try and stay positive. Calgary is an affluent community and people are as generous as they can possibly be," said Julie Brewster, co-ordinator of individual giving at the food bank.
"What we’re finding is lots of double-income families coming through the door with children, and we’ve also found a lot more individuals coming in the door," she said.
"If you’re a single guy and you’re usually doing landscaping or seasonal work, a lot of that just didn’t happen this year and EI — it only lasts for six months."
The reason double-income families are coming for help is because many companies prevented layoffs by reducing people to part-time or job sharing, Brewster explained.
"It’s not the same value of money coming in, and Calgary’s rent is still extraordinarily high. If you got locked into a mortgage a couple years ago, your mortgage is probably astronomical."
Brewster said the food bank doesn’t put turkeys in its Thanksgiving hampers, but people are already phoning to get on the list for the Christmas hamper, which does include a big bird.
For Thanksgiving, though, the food bank is reaping the benefit of garden harvests throughout the city, including a couple of retirement communities that do gardens for the food bank.
"We gathered 15,000 pounds of fresh produce a week ago that will go into our Thanksgiving hampers."
Salvation Army spokesperson Andrew Burditt said a package of pasta, which many people take for granted, can go a long way — as can a package of rice or a couple cans of soup.
"It all helps. So if everybody gave one piece of food, one item of food, we’d be a lot further along the road than we are now," he said.
The Salvation Army conducted its survey online between July 15 and Aug. 15.
Respondents were 139 individual officers and employees from the Salvation Army across Canada.
www.SalvationArmy.ca
Do the Math!
New Campaign Lets You "Do the Math" On Income Security
By Jonah Schein August 25, 2009
This fall, our federal politicians may lead us into an election fought on the issue of Employment Insurance benefits. But when it comes to the other income security programs most important to Ontarians, we are still looking for someone to lead us into battle.
Despite the provincial government’s promise to reduce poverty in Ontario, there is a deafening silence from our leaders when it comes to addressing the chronic inadequacy of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support programs -- the income security programs of last resort for vulnerable Ontarians.
The current economic crisis has exposed the failures of the market to provide stability and social security. As more and more people lose their jobs, and as market analysts predict the likelihood of a "jobless recovery," it’s time we addressed the condition of our social safety net in light of the actual cost of living in Ontario.
For too many people who are without paid work and living on social assistance, keeping up with monthly expenses costs them their health and dignity. A recent study found that social assistance recipients had higher rates of poor health and chronic conditions on 38 of 39 measures compared to the non-poor.
Back in 1966, when Canadian Assistance Plan (CAP) was established and the federal government shared the cost of welfare programs with the provinces, social assistance rates were based on specific necessities like food, clothing, shelter as well as transportation and other personal care items. But in 1995, CAP was dismantled, and the provinces were left to determine their own social assistance rates. In Ontario, the government of Mike Harris used this deregulation as an opportunity to push forward their neo-liberal agenda to discipline workers and cut welfare benefits by 22 per cent.
Fast-forward 14 years and there is still no clear criteria for setting social assistance rates in Ontario. We are now two years into the second term of the McGuinty Government -- a government with an avowed commitment to combating poverty in the province -- yet little has been done either to reverse the Harris cuts or to establish a benchmark which ensures that Ontarians on social assistance are able to live in health and dignity.
Food banks around the province are stretched to the limit, unable to bridge the gap between people’s income and the real costs of basic necessities in Ontario. In an effort to raise awareness about this widening gap, The Stop Community Food Centre in Toronto has launched a new website called "Do the Math".
The online survey asks people to imagine themselves in the shoes of a person on social assistance and to create a budget of what they think are the necessary items to live each month. Are items like bus fare, soap, internet access, or pet food necessary for people to live with health and dignity? If so, what do these things cost? How much is a reasonable amount to spend on rent and food?
At the end of the survey, the website tallies the users’ budget results and compares them to the monthly amounts actually received by people on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability benefits. An online portal enables users to send a message to the government of Ontario demanding action.
The website is helping to build support for the campaign to "Put Food in the Budget" -- a campaign launched by The Stop last February in partnership with the Social Planning Network of Ontario and the Association of Local Public Health Agencies. This coalition is asking for an additional $100 each month as a first step in addressing the chronic food insecurity and poor health of people on social assistance in Ontario.
Do the Math is a public awareness tool, but is also aimed at getting policymakers to do the math, and to put the question of social assistance adequacy within the framework of the poverty reduction promised by the Ontario Government.
Please go online and do the math yourself. http://www.dothemath.thestop.org
Jonah Schein is the Civic Engagement Coordinator of The Stop Community Food Centre. Located in Toronto's Davenport West neighbourhood, The Stop Community Food Centre works to increase people's access to healthy food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds community and challenges inequality. To get involved with the campaign to "Put Food in the Budget", please send an email to: civicengagement@thestop.org.
Nation looks to premiers to lead fight against poverty
Nation looks to premiers to lead fight against poverty
Aug 04, 2009 04:30 AM
LAUREL ROTHMAN
TRISH HENNESSY
Canada has been plunged into a worldwide recession that is harsher than any economic downturn since the Great Depression. Now, more than ever, citizens are counting on their governments for vision, compassion and leadership.
This week's premiers' talks create a vital opening to start now on an economic recovery plan that reduces poverty, prevents more Canadians from falling into poverty, and puts all of Canada's provincial economies back on a steady footing.
The recession hit Canada last October, and since then about 370,000 Canadians have been thrown out of work. But the federal employment insurance (EI) program isn't there for half (52 per cent) of the nation's unemployed.
The fallout from this recession is landing squarely on the premiers' shoulders. Without an adequate EI program, Canada's unemployed will be turning to social assistance, food banks, homeless shelters and other provincially funded programs. Provincial poverty rates are bound to soar – with dizzying speed in some regions.
For too long, there has been a leadership void at the federal level. We urge Canada's premiers to do everything it takes to bring the federal government to the table, and to act in a cooperative, coordinated way to address poverty before the situation gets worse. According to an Environics poll, 89 per cent of Canadians say the Prime Minister and the provincial premiers need to set concrete goals and timelines to reduce poverty.
Four out of 10 children living in poverty have at least one parent working full time. Unfortunately, there are few income supports for that family when the parent loses a job or cannot find work.
In the 1980s and 1990s recessions, there were more and better supports. Employment insurance and provincial social assistance programs were available and accessible. Not so today. Nine months into recession, Canada is still not recession-ready. An immediate increase in social assistance rates and a relaxation of the rules on asset limits would help many families gain economic independence.
The burden will fall on Canada's premiers to deal with the aftermath. Some are implementing poverty reduction strategies in their province. Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba – representing more than two-thirds of Canada's population – are planning or implementing poverty reduction strategies. This leadership is welcome but it is still not visionary enough to ensure Canada is positioned for a return to prosperity post-recession.
Most Canadians agree that the persistence of child and family poverty is unacceptable. An Environics poll reveals 90 per cent of Canadians say they would be proud if their premier took the lead in reducing poverty in their province; 88 per cent want Canada to be a leader in poverty reduction; and 77 per cent say a recession is all the more reason to act now. Even in recession Canadians' desire for their governments to act on poverty and inequality reduction remains strong.
Poverty robs us of critical talent and denies young people the opportunity to succeed. As we approach Nov. 24 – which marks 20 years since the unanimous 1989 all-party resolution to end child poverty in Canada – nearly 680,000 children and their families live in poverty. That's 9.5 per cent of all children – about one out of every 10. And that was before this recession. As acknowledged in the Kelowna Accord, for First Nations, Métis and Inuit children the poverty rate is substantially higher. We can, and must, do better.
There are other, non-recessionary pressures on provinces and territories as well. The demographic shift is on our doorstep as baby boomers begin the biggest wave of retirement this nation will have ever experienced. Pressures on our future labour market in the context of a globally competitive post-recession environment means Canada needs every citizen to be at his or her working best. Persistent poverty acts as a barrier to future prosperity – it exacts punishing hardships on those who live it and it keeps Canada from realizing its full potential.
The cost of political inaction is steep. Recent analysis by the Ontario Association of Food Banks estimates the cost of poverty at $38 billion a year. Repeating the "belt-tightening" method of the 1990s will only deepen recession-driven hardships.
Canadians are counting on every premier in this country to act now to reduce and prevent poverty. And they're counting on the premiers to rise above jurisdictional differences and bring the Prime Minister on board for a coordinated recession-fighting poverty reduction plan. Our premiers have a heavy responsibility but also hold tremendous power. We trust they will exercise that power during their upcoming talks.
Laurel Rothman works at Family Service Toronto and is national coordinator of Campaign 2000. Trish Hennessy is director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives' Inequality Project.
News Archives
Good intentions may turn to action by year's end
Good intentions may turn to action by year's end
September 19, 2009
Helen Henderson
The Toronto Star
In a move that has surprised and heartened many observers, Canada has told the United Nations it may ratify a strategic agreement on the rights of people with disabilities this year.
The agreement is the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. If ratification took place by Dec. 3, the International Day of Persons With Disabilities, or Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, it would add a new dimension to celebrations.
"The time frame would be tight but it could be done," says Anna MacQuarrie, policy analyst on government and legal affairs at the Canadian Association for Community Living, which helps people with intellectual disabilities. "I'm cautiously optimistic."
The UN agreement, hammered out two years ago, emphasizes that people who move or communicate or process information differently from the majority are important members of society, entitled to inclusive schools, workplaces, transportation systems, affordable housing and communities.
It adds depth to the values entrenched in human rights codes across Canada.
Ratification means making sure that our laws and policies uphold those values. It means actively scrapping practices that discriminate, and monitoring our intentions over the long run.
Canada signed the UN pact in 2007, indicating it would be giving active consideration to the cause. More than a year ago, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion calling for ratification.
But then things stalled.
Indeed, while United Nations negotiators were lauded for the unheralded speed with which they achieved a complex international agreement through a process marked by transparency and goodwill, in Canada a veil seemed to descend on further progress.
Finally, once again, there seems cause for hope.
"Domestic consultative processes are nearing completion," federal diplomats told the UN in an official statement earlier this month. "The Government of Canada is currently giving priority consideration to ratification of the Convention in 2009."
Needless to say, we've a long way to go and a lot of stuff to sort out before we're even close to breaking out the bubbly.
If nothing else, no fewer than four ministries have a hand in this decision: Foreign Affairs, Heritage, Human Resources and Justice. None was willing to go on record to narrow down a time frame.
Then there are those little details, such as snap elections and economic uncertainty, that tend to make everything else pale by comparison. Cynics even postulate that Canada's official statement on ratification was given only because so many circumstances could make the whole issue moot.
But if the will is there, potential obstacles can be overcome, no matter who has the upper hand in the nation's capital by the time December rolls around. And those who have worked so hard for change are always willing to hope.
"I will be happy to give kudos if the government does come through," says Diane Richler, president of Inclusion International, which represents people with intellectual disabilities all around the world (inclusion-international .org). Its studies underline the importance of the the UN convention on disability rights – the report Hear Our Voices resulted from researchers visits with hundreds of families in more than 80 countries to find:
26 million people with intellectual disabilities live on less than $1 a day.
Even those in industrialized nations are among the poorest in their countries. At least one parent has to stay home to provide care, leading to a cycle of poverty and exclusion.
While many countries point to impressive laws and policies to protect and advance rights, these rights are not being realized on the ground.
Canada is, unfortunately in this final category. We have the best of intentions, but too often we fall short. Ratifying the UN agreement would set in place a monitoring system to measure our success. Let's do it.
Helen Henderson is a freelance writer and disability studies student at Ryerson University. Her column appears Saturdays.
Unemployment Soars in Hamilton
Unemployment soars in Hamilton
August 26, 2009
Steve Arnold
The Hamilton
Spectator
Hamilton posted one of the worst unemployment hikes in Ontario during June.
New figures from Statistics Canada show the number
of people getting Employment Insurance benefits in the
Hamilton-Grimsby-Burlington area soared almost 130 per cent between June 2008
and the same month this year.
Only Kitchener and Windsor posted worse percentage
increases.
"It's clear that the labour market around the
country is pretty bad and the EI stats continue to reflect that," said
Erin Weir, economist for the United Steelworkers.
"The most optimistic interpretation here is
that we're on the verge of an increase in output, but it's likely the jobs
picture is going to stay gloomy for months or years to come."
The Statistics Canada numbers show 12,300 people in
the region getting unemployment insurance in June, up from 5,360 one year ago.
The number of recipients was down slightly from
12,480 in May.
Across the country, Statistics Canada reported
816,600 people getting regular benefits, up 5.1 per cent or 39,500 from May.
During the second quarter of the year, the agency said, the rate at which EI
claims are growing has slowed to 18.8 per cent from 25.2 per cent in the first
quarter.
That trend continued in June with the number of new
claims filed falling almost 8 per cent.
Since June 2008, Ontario manufacturing and auto centres have
been especially hard hit. Windsor, heavily dependent on auto assembly and parts
production, saw its number of claimants rise from 4,500 to 14,200; Oshawa rose
from 3,300 to 7,000; London from 4,200 to 9,400; and St. Catharines-Niagara
from 3,900 to 8,800.
Under current rules, only about half of unemployed
Canadians qualify for EI benefits. Don Fraser, president of the Hamilton and
District Labour Council, said with defeated workers who've stopped looking for
a job and part-time employees who'd rather be working full-time, "I'd
strongly suggest the number of unemployed people in Hamilton is over 30,000."
Another troubling fear for labour leaders is the
impact those soaring numbers of EI recipients could have on municipal welfare
rolls when benefits run out.
"What worries me is that in the regions that
have seen really serious job losses, people are going to start running out of
benefits soon," said Andrew Jackson, economist for the Canadian Labour
Congress. "People aren't exhausting their benefits in large numbers yet,
but we're going to start seeing that in the fall."
That's important because most analysts are
predicting the impact of this recession will be felt until 2011 as the economy
only slowly starts to grow again. The growth of jobs, however, will seriously
lag growth in output as employers delay hiring as long as they can.
"The economy has to be growing at 2 or 3 per
cent before employers start hiring again," Jackson said. "I think we're going to
have a pretty grim winter."
That level of growth isn't likely this year or
next, added CIBC World Markets chief economist Avery Shenfeld.
While the recession may technically be over, he
said, "we don't expect growth to average above the non-inflationary
potential until 2011."
