The Wellesley Institute has released a new study called Tracking the housing promises that shows that the federal government has been slow in allocating housing funding. [PDF format]

OTTAWA, May 26, 2009 - Rural Canada needs a champion at the federal cabinet table and a long-term plan from the federal government to reverse the decline in its struggling towns and villages.

That was the message today from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) as it released its report, Wake-Up Call: The National Vision and Voice We Need for Rural Canada, at a news conference on Parliament Hill.

This report from Nick Falvo reports on the potential application of the Housing First model in Canada, the best example of which is Toronto's Streets to Homes project. [PDF Format]

This report from Glynis Maxwell of Community Development Halton provides a background and update on the development of Ontario's poverty reduction strategy, exploring both its strengths and weaknesses. [PDF Format]

This first collection of reports from the Caandian Council on Social Development identifies current federal, provincial, and territorial approaches to poverty reduction, alleviation and eradication.

"I believe that freedom from poverty is a human right. I believe in equality among all people. I believe we are all entitled to social and economic security. I believe in dignity for all. NOW is the time to end poverty in Canada."

Andrea Horwath, leader of the NDP in Ontario, has launched an online petition website for people to call for the cancellation of the Harmonized Sales Tax, scheduled to be introduced in July of 2010.

A Message from Education Action: Toronto

Dear Friends,

If it is at all possible for you to attend one of the fiscal update meetings of the TDSB, we hope you can do so. They are billed as consultation meetings, but really they are nothing more than a time for the Board to lay out its fiscal dilemma. Seeing that layout in detail, however, is worth the effort. The coming cutbacks over the next three years are far worse than we could have imagined. The bottom line is as follows:

REVISED PRELIMINARY SHORTFALL: For 2009-10 $39.3m, for 2010-11 $37.1m, and for 2011-12 $44.7m.

It's Time to Fix E.I.
It's Time to Protect Pensions.
It's Time to Put People Before Banks

Saturday, June 13th
Rally starts at 1:00 p.m. March to follow.
Downtown Toronto at Metro Hall (King Street and John Street)

Toronto, May 6, 2009 – Ontario has taken a historic step forward on poverty reduction with the all-party approval of Bill 152, the Poverty Reduction Act, said the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction.

The legislation requires Ontario to set a new poverty reduction target and plan of action at least every five years, and to consult regularly on its progress with low income people, groups at heightened risk of poverty, and other key stakeholders. Poverty in Ontario can no longer be ignored.