A wealth of evidence—both global and local—confirms the value of literacy, and the importance of programs that promote literacy. This is especially the case for low-income individuals and communities, for whom gains in literacy can be transformative.
Inequality and poverty
As first published in the Winnipeg Free Press Oct 2, 2014.
As of October 1st, minimum wage earners in Manitoba will earn $10.70 per hour – just over $20,800 annually. This leaves a family of four, with both parents working, with an income that is more than $1,500 below the poverty line. Single parent families are worse off with incomes more than $8,000 short. It is widely agreed that a job can be the best pathway out of poverty. But this is only true if wages meet basic needs.
Last night several dozen business leaders, politicians and high profile Winnipeggers spent a night at Portage and Main in the annual CEO Sleep Out to raise funds and awareness about poverty and homelessness. However if we as a society are actually going to end homelessness, systemic change is needed.
Lorrie Steeve’s distasteful comments about Aboriginal panhandlers set off a series of responses that reflected badly on many Winnipeggers. The following week’s big story was the murder of Tina Fontaine and the suicide of Faron Hall. There followed a seemingly unrelated Free Press op ed about climate change, and another breaking story about Manitoba’s and Winnipeg’s credit rating.
The Free Press presented all these stories, but failed to connect the dots. Doing so is revealing.
Inside this issue:
Precarious temp agency work requires public policy attention by Andrew Longhurst
Don't believe the (LNG) hype by Marc Lee
The disconnect between economic growth and teachers' wages by Iglika Ivanova
What are the net benefits of the Northern Gateway? by Marvin Shaffer
New living wage reports force us to look at child poverty in the city by Iglika Ivanova
The good life, the green life
The following op-ed was originally published in The Georgia Straight.
On June 16, I attended the B.C. government’s Disability Summit, the culmination of a three-month public consultation process on disability in B.C.
Young North End activists hailed it as the latest example of “North End Rising.” That was the response when Premier Selinger announced on June 24 that the Provincial Government is investing more than $9 million in the redevelopment of the old Merchants Hotel and six adjoining lots on Selkirk and Pritchard Avenues. At the heart of what will be called Merchants Corner is an innovative educational strategy, prompting Minister of Children and Youth Opportunities, Kevin Chief, to use the phrase “beer bottles to books.” Whatever slogan is used, this is an exciting initiative.
Watch the video below and click here to visit CCPA-Ontario's Working For A Living website—a storytelling project to convey the value of a decent minimum wage and a living wage.
For one week in early April, Sara Swartz (Universitas Programme of the KIP International School), Shauna MacKinnon (Manitoba Research Alliance [MRA] and University of Winnipeg [UW]) and Lynne Fernandez (MRA and CCPA MB) visited Medellin, Colombia to take part in the seventh World Urban Forum (WUF7).
On Tuesday, May 6th, in the BC Legislature, the Official Opposition (MLA Michelle Mungall) introduced a private member’s Bill proposing a BC Poverty Reduction and Economic Inclusion Act. The Act, were it to be enacted, would see the government develop a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy within one year, and legislate specific targets and timelines to reduce the breadth and depth of poverty.