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Issue #52, July 2007 |
CSPC-T staff at the June 5 Community Social Services Campaign kickoff
At the beginning of each month, this e-bulletin provides news on the activities of the CSPC-T and our partners, as well as access to new research and policy products and networks, in print and web-based forms.
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Please note the deadline to submit information for the next e-Newsletter is July 23, 2007. Submissions may be e-mailed to avonbargen@cspc.toronto.on.ca | In this issue: |
The CSPC-T held its Annual General Meeting on June 19, 2007, at the Scarborough Civic Centre. The meeting was well-attended, and the CSPC-T wishes to congratulate its new Board of Directors. The 2007-2008 Board is: Yasmin Bhatia, Ekua Blair, Celia Denov, Mario Calla, Tam Goossen, Vera Dodic, Krishan Mehta, Vera Ndaba, Rhonda Roffey, Waheeda Rahman, Andrew Lalonde, Mary Elspeth Milosh, Linda Torney, Nicole Wall, Myra Wiener. Their bios are available online at: www.socialplanningtoronto.org An informative presentation on the Referendum Question for this year’s Provincial Election was given by Citizens’ Assembly member Donna Tichonchuk. The CSPC-T looks forward to another successful year ahead. Community Social Services Campaign a great success CSPC-T joined with 80 other agencies at Queen’s Park on June 5 to raise awareness of the issues facing the social services sector. The day was a great success, and the Community Social Services Campaign has been invited to a meeting with Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur to discuss the relevant issues as a result. For more on the campaign: www.socialplanningtoronto.org/cssc
CSPC-T and SPACE Coalition in the news The results of the 2007 Community Use of Schools Survey made headlines this month. The survey found that while the provincial government has made some good first steps, there is a lot to be improved upon in the areas of funding, application process, and accountability. To read the research report, the Canadian Press article and watch the CTV news clip, go to www.socialplanningtoronto.org
York Hispanic Centre Annual General Meeting - July 5 The Board of Directors of the York Hispanic Centre is hosting its Annual General Meeting on July 5th, 2007 at 6:00 pm, at the York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Avenue West (one block west of Keele Street, North side).
Immigrant Success Awards – Deadline: July 6 The IS Awards recognize companies and individuals in the GTA that have proven leadership in recruiting, retaining and promoting skilled immigrants. There are six award categories: Small Employer Award, Mid-size Employer Award, Large Employer Award, Influencer Award, Canadian HR Reporter Individual Achievement Award and Toronto Star “People’s Choice Award” for Outstanding Employer. The application deadline has been extended to July 6, 2007. Visit www.IS2007.ca for details or contact Emily Mills at TRIEC - 416.944.1946 ext 282, emills@triec.ca.
New Deal to Fight Hunger A New Deal to Fight Hunger offers solutions for children, those on welfare, the working poor, people with disabilities, immigrants and housing. The New Deal is a comprehensive anti-poverty action plan. Building on successes in the most recent provincial and federal budgets, it is a plan that recommends realistic policy changes and calls for targets and timelines. Making this plan a reality depends on you. Politicians, political parties and the government of Ontario will only act if people like you insist. Daily Bread Food Bank released its annual “Who’s Hungry” 2007 profile of hunger in GTA last week. They’re seeking 50,000 signatories to endorse their “New Deal to Fight Hunger” – visit www.hungrycity.ca to add your name. See www.dailybread.ca for a full copy of their report, including the policy recommendations they make for a poverty reduction plan for Ontario.
City of Toronto 2007 Community Volunteer Services Awards. Each year, through the Community Service Volunteer Awards, the City of Toronto celebrates people who invest in their communities, inspire others through their volunteer work and by contributing to the improvement of communities. Application forms may be printed from: www.toronto.ca/volunteer_awards. The deadline for nomination is August 31, 2007. The selection process will be completed by an independent selection committee consisting of community members and City staff. The successful candidates and nominators will be notified in October and the Awards ceremony will take place at City Hall in December 2007. For more information, please visit the website www.toronto.ca/volunteer_awards
Online Campaign - Save the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario Funding for the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario from Legal Aid Ontario comes to an end in September 2007. After September 2007, the fastest growing community in the GTA - the South Asian community - will be denied access to legal services that are affordable and that meet the community’s needs in a linguistically and culturally sensitive manner. You can help us by sending an e-mail to Members of Provincial Parliament and Legal Aid Ontario through our campaign website: http://www.savesalco.ca/index.html
Shades of Brown: Education Conference: South Asian Issues: Challenges, Myths and Promises – July 8 - 12 This conference would begin to fill the gap and develop a sound understanding of the challenges and myths around the lived realities of the South Asian diaspora locally and internationally. Date: July 8, 2007 – Parents and students (14 & over) July 8 - 12, 2007 – Educators/ Administrators/ Researchers/ Service Providers Location: York University Registration is available online at http://www.shadesofbrown.org/registration.htm. For more information please visit: http://www.shadesofbrown.org/ or contact York university, division of Continuing Education at 416-736-2100 ext 44617 of email: conferences@yorku.ca
Understanding Immigrant Chidren Thursday - October 25-26, 2007 The conference is designed to explore our current understanding of child development and family dynamics, and the social challenges and issues that are relevant to immigrant children. The age range of children span from infancy to the college years. Leading researchers from around the world are from various disciplines (e.g., psychology, sociology, social work, education) and methodological approaches (quantitative, qualitative). Some community agencies will also be presenting their work. Please click here for the full conference program: http://www.family.uoguelph.ca/CMSPDF/GEN/GEN_chuangnewshoresprogram.pdf Click here for registration information: http://www.family.uoguelph.ca/CMSPDF/GEN/GEN_Chuang%20ICC%20registration%20i **There is a special conference rate for members of Metropolis at a rate of the Early bird registration fee ($175 CDN, $150 US) until August 15, 2007. Space is limited.
Diversity Job Portal You now have access to the new Diversity Job Board. Post FREE, UNLIMITED employment opportunities that are applicable to all candidates across Ontario, including and not limited to clients on ODSP/CPP, Employment Insurance (EI), Ontario Works (OW), Professionally Trained Immigrants, Aboriginal and visible minorities, 50 Plus, Youth and general public. Corporate clients looking for experienced/skilled, pre-assessed candidates may contact us. Place candidates on a Mentorship program with NO AGENCY COST TO YOU. • Non Profit Agencies that wish to include your training programs/webinars, events, job fairs, virtual tour of your community centre or just list your non profit agency, may email us at info@communityoutreach.ca We assist clients on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Service Canada formerly Human Resource Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Professionally training new immigrants and youth. Valerie Alphonso T: 416 271 9916
Toronto’s Top Employers -- Not Who You Think? New Toronto Board of Trade directory shows public sector dominates list of major employers. http://www.marketwire.com/2.0/release.do?id=742124
Homelessness in a growth economy: Canada’s 21st century paradox Gordon Laird’s report for the Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership puts the cost of homelessness in Canada at $49.5 billion over the past decade and makes a number of other findings. http://www.chumirethicsfoundation.ca/files/pdf/SHELTER.pdf
The Daily, Statistics Canada – June highlights Tuesday, June 12 Study: Rising education of women and the gender earnings gap 1981 to 2001 The earnings gap between young women and men only declined moderately during the 1990s, despite a dramatic increase in the proportion of young women holding a university degree, according to a new study. From 1991 to 2001, the proportion of 25- to 29-year-old women holding a university degree went from 21% to 34%. In contrast, the proportion of 25- to 29-year-old men holding a university degree only rose moderately over the period, from 16% in 1991 to 21% in 2001. Despite the sharp increase in the proportion of young women with a university degree and the fact that university degree-holders generally earn more than other workers, the gender earnings gap only declined slightly over the period. http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/11F0019MIE/11F0019MIE2007301.htm
Labour productivity, hourly compensation and unit labour cost First quarter 2007 The year 2007 opened on a solid note for productivity in the Canadian business sector. Between January and March, quarterly labour productivity growth accelerated to 0.7%, more than three times the pace in the previous quarter (+0.2%). Canadian businesses managed to triple their production rate from the previous quarter, while hours worked increased at a more moderate pace. This surge in productivity in the first quarter of 2007 was the largest gain since the 1.0% recorded in the third quarter of 2005. Unit labour costs slowed significantly in both Canada and the United States in the first quarter of 2007. Nevertheless, when measured in their respective national currencies, unit labour costs rose slightly faster in Canada than in the US. http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070612/d070612a.htm
Friday, June 15 Study: Persistence of low income among working-aged unattached individuals 1993 to 2004 Although unattached individuals under 65 accounted for just 11% of the Canadian population in 2005, they represented over a third of people who lived in low income that year. As well, they comprised 47% of people who remained in low income for six consecutive years, according to a new study. The study found that people who lived alone were more likely than people in “economic families” to be in low income persistently, even when age group, visible minority status, educational attainment, work status, and work limitation status were taken into account. http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/75F0002MIE/75F0002MIE2007005.pdf
Tuesday, June 19 Study: Canadians and their non-voting political activity 2003 One in three Canadians aged 19 to 64 was involved in non-voting political activities in 2003, according to a new study published today. The study, published today in the June 2007 online edition of Canadian Social Trends, uses data from the 2003 General Social Survey on social engagement to examine the characteristics of non-retired Canadians aged 19 to 64 who engage in certain types of political activity. http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-008-XIE/2007002/11-008-XIE20070029646.htm
Friday, June 22 Government spending on social services 1989 to 2007 An analysis of data on government finance released in The Daily on June 14, 2007, reveals that between 2002 and 2007, spending on health and environment had annual average rates of growth among the fastest of all spending components (see the note to readers). Spending on health rose 6.8% on average each year between 2002 and 2007, while spending on the environment went up 7.8%. Social services spending, in comparison, increased at an annual average rate of only 4.0%. http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070622/d070622b.htm
Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to develop and promote progressive social policies inspired by social justice, equality and the empowerment of individuals and communities. CCSD have created a new page for conference listings. Visit their website if you are interested in seeing the upcoming social policy conferences or are interested in having your conference listed on their page at: http://www.ccsd.ca/events/conferences.htm
Campaign 2000 Campaign 2000 is a cross-Canada public education movement to build Canadian awareness and support for the 1989 all-party House of Commons resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Campaign 2000 is non-partisan in urging all Canadian elected officials to keep their promise to Canada’s children. It also increases public awareness of the levels and consequences of child/family poverty by publishing research on the indicators of child poverty and developing public education resources. Visit their website at: http://www.campaign2000.ca/ |
