Recession Relief Coalition/indicators

 Research studies, graphs and charts on the effects of the recession.

Including statistics about unemployment, poverty, hunger and homelessness

If you need research materials about the recession, poverty, hunger and homelessness and the difficulties facing the organizations who work to alleviate the suffering, this is the place to find it. On this page there are numerous documents and studies from a multitude of respected research organizations and individuals that will help to clarify the issues. Most of these documents are available to download as pdf files.

added Feb 23 

Recession Relief Coaliton Bulletin #3 "One Year Later": 

Problems and solutions within the EI, Social Assistance and Pension programs

added Dec 29 

More than half the new “affordable” housing funded by the Ontario government isn’t really affordable to the households that need it the most. That’s one of the devastating findings in the Ontario auditor-general’s latest annual report, released today.  “A provincial strategy is needed to define the Ministry [of Municipal Affairs and Housing's] roles, set measurable goals and program priorities, assess risks and options to manage the risks, determine the resources required, and measure the impact of the Ministry’s contribution to social housing,” urges the auditor-general

added Dec 22 

This excellent report is full of exceptional information to help us understand the economics of this recession.

Well worth reading.

added Dec12 

This workshop explores alternative interpretations of the current economic
crisis. The presentations are from organized labour, community activists
and academics. The focus of this workshop is critical engagement,
discussion and debate. Questions addressed include: How have various
perspectives analyzed and understood the roots of the current economic
crisis? Is there something fundamentally unsound about the current
political-economic structure? Is the current crisis to be located within a
set of recently established policies, or better understood over the
long-term historical development of capitalism? How have the policy
prescriptions and ideological rationales shifted over the years? And, more
ambitiously, where do we go from here?
     Andrew Jackson – is the National Director, Social and Economic
     Policy, with the Canadian Labour Congress.
     Toby Sanger – is a Senior Economist with the Canadian Union of Public
     Employees.
     Justin Paulson – is assistant professor in the Department of
     Anthropology at Carleton University. 

added Dec 12 

Home safe

This film about homelessness in Toronto is a must see.

added Dec 12 

Senate Report on Housing

IN FROM THE MARGINS:
A CALL TO ACTION ON
POVERTY, HOUSING
AND HOMELESSNESS 

added Dec 7  

Poverty is a human rights violation

This Law Sheet, produced by the Poverty and Human Rights Centre, is concerned with the role that international human rights law can play in the interpretation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other laws in Canada. It is intended to assist lawyers in their advocacy work before courts and tribunals. It is also intended to assist non-governmental organizations who rely on the human rights framework in their work to assist members of vulnerable groups. It is specifically focused on the domestic enforcement of social and economic rights.

added Dec 7 

This is an important new means of measuring poverty. It measures the actual ability of a household to maintain an acceptable standard of living rather than exclusively measuring its income under the misleading assumption that income is the sole basis of their ability to remain above the poverty level.

added Dec 6  

A Stronger Foundation
Pension Reform and Old Age Security

 The value of pension fund investments has dropped so that many workplace pension plans are underfunded — that is they don’t have enough money to pay all the promised pensions.

added Dec 6 

Canadia Governments have given $200 billion to corporations

That is $15,126 from each of us that for the large part is now residing in off shore banks or other investments.

Bailouts and subsidies to businesses by Canadian governments surpassed $200 billion between 1994 and 2007, adding up to $15,126 per taxpayer,  according to a report Friday from the Fraser Institute.

added Dec 6 

National Report Card on Poverty

Two decades after the House of Commons’ unanimous resolution “to seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000,” 1 in 10 children in Canada still lives in poverty. On Tuesday, November 24 Campaign 2000 and its partners released the new Annual Report Card on Child and Family Poverty

added Dec 4 

Weathering the Storm

A survey of non profits and charities in Vancouver that reflects the financial difficulties in this sector across Canada.

added Dec 1 

Employment Insurance Increases-Stats Can  

The number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits rose by 54,300 (+7.1%) in September, following two months of declines. The largest increases in September occurred in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

The number of beneficiaries in September reached 818,000, up 63.5% from October 2008 when employment hit its peak. During this period, the largest increases occurred in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. The number of beneficiaries had shown a sharp upward trend from October 2008 to June 2009, but has since levelled off.

The number of initial and renewal claims received in September fell 5.0% (-14,700) to 280,700. The number of EI claims received has been trending down since the most recent peak in May 2009. Declines in the number of claims received in September were observed in most provinces.

added Nov 27 

Homeless 2 Home Book

This 32 page book in pdf format is an id depth study of homelessness which Ronzig contributed both his thoughts and art to. the Recession Relief Coalition is mentioned here. 

added Nov 26 

Charity Intelligence Canada - Homelessness in Canada

Homelessness can happen to anyone. The biggest trigger is people losing jobs leaving them unable to buy food and pay rent. 300,000 of Canada's working poor live pay cheque to pay cheque. Ci's Homeless in Canada report shows that quick response to homelessness with safe housing reduces the costs we all bear.

added Nov 25

At any time during the year as many as 65,000* youth across Canada are without a place to call home.

Our National Toque Campaign will run in communities across Canada from late November 2009 to February 2010. Proceeds will support grass-roots agencies serving homeless youth as well as Raising the Roof’s Youthworks Initiative Phase II

Jobless Rates Soar to 10.2 Percent

The number one cause of homelessness has gotten worse, according to October unemployment numbers. For the first time since 1983, the jobless rate in the U.S. has reached the double-digits. Although experts claim that the recession has ended, the trickle-down effects of our economic woes are far from over. As more Americans lose their jobs, they will come closer to losing their homes. click here to read the full story

  The Worst of Times For Thousands of Canadians

Urgent Federal Action Needed

There are strong signs that Canadians may be going to the polls this fall or early winter. Election or not - action is required now to address peoples’ suffering and to maintain stability in our homes and communities.

Almost half a million full time jobs have been lost in Canada since last October. On top of that tens of thousands of part time jobs have gone too. In this shrinking economy, many people and communities are suffering. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Canada’s unemployment rate is predicted to reach almost 10% by 2010 and this recession may be even worse than the one in the early 90s which took more than 8 years to recover. (OECD Employment Outlook-2009). Many people have stopped looking for work because they are so discouraged with the lack of good jobs that pay living wages. Others are patching together two or more part time or contract jobs.

Youth and students have been very hard hit: youth unemployment in Canada in July was 20.9%. (Progressive Economics Forum, August 7^th 2009, Andrew Jackson). Since the recession began Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) take up rates increased by 10 percent at Ryerson and 12 percent at University of Toronto. (Canadian Federation of Students 2009). Immigrants are also hard hit –Unemployment for those in Canada less than five years grew from 12 per cent in 2008 to 15 per cent in 9 months by April 2009. Even those in Canada 5-10 years have seen spikes in an already high rate of unemployment (From 9.9 % in July 08 to almost 16% by April 09). (Naomi Alboim, Fellow, School of Policy Studies, Queens University).

The majority of people being laid off in Canada are not eligible for Employment Insurance. Last November about 275,000 jobs were lost in Canada, for those who were eligible for EI , their benefits will run out in weeks or a few months. These people have no hope or very faint hope for good jobs to replace the jobs they lost. These people are not responsible for the economic downturn, and are shocked and disappointed with the failure of Canadian and provincial safety nets to support them through this crisis. Dashed dreams-New Realities: Report – sponsored by a number of Groups in Calgary including U of Calgary/Alberta Global Forum. People affected by job loss and recession expressed alienation from government and hardship accessing a safety net weakened by 1990 eras cuts. (Sept 16, 2009).

Although the recession has been declared over in some quarters, the largest increase in single people receiving Ontario Works since the program's inception has occurred in the 10 month period from the economic crash of 2008 until August 2009. (27% increase in 10 months). This growth continued despite the existing barriers to access social assistance which limits assets such as RRSPs. Growth in social assistance caseloads will continue to mushroom as Employment Insurance claimants exhaust their claims. Joblessness is a major source of poverty in Canada. Even before the downturn, two-thirds of jobless households were poor while social assistance incomes leave many jobless families well below the poverty line. The inadequacy of these benefits should ring an alarm bell for all Canadians. The issues must be addressed. In addition, the ratio of single welfare benefits to full time minimum wages is less than 40%, the lowest since the mid 1930's.

In Ontario, Provincial expenditures have stayed still since 1993 during the same time period that the federal government cancelled the Canada Assistance Plan that paid 50% of the provinces' social assistance bill. In Ontario The single welfare rate in 1993 was $663 a month. Adjusted for inflation, this rate would now be $887 a month. The current single maximum is $572 a month and it would take a 55% rate increase to bring it to the $887 that would simply keep it in line with inflation, let alone real improvement. Unlike other Ontarians, people forced onto social assistance endured their own personal and relentless 16 year long recession that experienced no recovery at all.

There is a already a lack of affordable housing for all in Canada, and issues of eviction and need for more affordable housing will increase as the recession continues and people lose jobs and good wages and rely on less and less income to survive.

One Toronto drop-in and shelter reports it now services 1,200 meals and snacks a day – demand has spiked by 44% since the previous year. And yet the donations to their Easter campaign were down by 17% ($83,000 compared to $100,000 the previous year). (National Post, 2009/07/02).

Daily Bread Food Bank reported food bank visits in GTA surpassed 1 million visits for the first time and rose between January 2009 and April 2009 by 17%. More than half of new clients surveyed were using food banks because of recent job loss or reduced hours and three quarters of food bank clients have been selling assets or going into debt to pay for basic needs such as food and rent. (National Post 09/07/2009).

In Toronto in April 2009 there were 1,143 families in homeless shelters, a 4 per cent increase from a year earlier. For every family in a shelter there are three or four ‘hidden’ families living in poverty and insecure housing. (Toronto Star , Sept 7,2009 and Michael Shapcott Wellesley Institute).

In Calgary the rate of homelessness skyrocketed nearly 900% in the last 15 years.21,000 people experienced homelessness. (Homelessness Awareness Calgary Committee).

People are suffering across Canada in urban and rural areas including: single people, families with children, youth and young adults, post-secondary students, older adults nearing retirement and seniors with reduced pensions and investments. Newcomers and racialized communities are one of the groups hardest hit by poverty and on top of that by the current recession. In Canada, it is a priority issue to face the inadequacy of our social programs to ensure that people can meet basic needs and live with health and dignity. Before the recession the social safety net and non profit programs (our social infrastructure) was already inadequate and many people were falling through the cracks. But following the downturn, with the growing flood of people in need, the crisis is growing and there is an urgent need for Federal and Provincial action, investment and reforms. The Recession Coalition calls on the Conservative Party of Canada, Liberals, NDP, Green and Bloc Quebecois Parties to take action now:

1. Prevent spending cuts to public and private not for profit agencies serving vulnerable people of all ages.

2. Include social infrastructure (social programs) in funding from Canada’s stimulus funding.

3.Increase funding to all HRSDC (Human Resources and Social Development Canada)programs including employment, training and settlement programs

4. Double funding for the HPI (Homeless Partnerships Initiatives) program. This is a position that the City of Toronto supported in their budget recommendations in January 2009, and we belief that many urban and rural municipalities would support this investment.

5.Implement a fully funded National Housing Program.

6.Implement Employment Insurance Reforms called for by the Good Jobs For All Coalition including changing qualification for EI in all regions of Canada to 360 hours; Extending EI benefits while a worker is in approved training; Increase benefits to at least 60% of normal earnings based on workers best 12 weeks.

7.Commit to fund and implement Social Assistance reforms including enacting Federal standards to increase funding to address poverty for people of all ages and reform social assistance.

A Recession Relief survey has been sent to the Conservative party of Canada, Liberal Party, NDP, Green, and Bloc Quebecois to ask their positions on Recession Relief. We will release a bulletin when we have an answer- www.recession-relief-coaltion.org

Five actions you can take to advocate for Recession Relief in Canada and in your community

1. Support or volunteer with the Recession Relief Coalition to help us advocate and mobilize support for government action. Support other coalitions such as: Good Jobs For All Coalition, Canadian Federation of Students, Colour of Poverty, National Housing and Homelessness Network.

2.Share your stories with us on the impact of the recession in your family, community or agency.

3.If an election is called ask your local candidates about their policies and plans on recession relief.

4. Join with others in your area (e.g. Legal clinic, health centre, labour groups, community orgs to organize an All Candidates Meeting in your area focussed on the Recession)

5. Call party leaders to ask for their stand on key recession relief issues. To find out who are the candidates in your area: contact Elections Canada- www.elections.ca ; 1-800-463-6868

The Recession Relief Coalition is a broad-based group of organizations and individuals concerned about the impact of the recession on Canada’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents. Over 260 organizations, and over 1,100 individuals across Canada endorsed the coalition’s call on the federal government to invest funding to prevent cuts to public and private non profit agencies serving vulnerable communities, a and to increase funding to support vital social services including homelessness programs and settlement services.

To contact the Recession Relief Coalition.

www.recession-relief-coalition.org

Message line: 416-760-2197

Email: ronzig@recession-relief-coalition.org

You can download the pdf version of this bulletin below. 

This is what the Recession Looks Like

Just as the Federal government was set to release its first "report card" on its multi-billion dollar “Economic Stimulus” January budget, and on the heels of their announcement in Geneva that they don't need to develop a national poverty reduction strategy, the Recession Relief Coalition held an event to release,  "This is what the Recession Looks Like," a research Bulletin that sounds the alarm as it tracks the harsh impacts of the Recession.

The bulletin is attached for your convenience, and can also be downloaded here:
Please feel free to circulate this document in your community and use it in meetings with Federal, Provincial or Municipal politicians.  
We would appreciate it if you would share your stories and facts with us for future editions of the bulletin; we would like to work with groups across Canada to tell stories and monitor impacts of the recession and demand action and solutions.  We are also hoping that communities across Canada will replicate this work in their communities. 

The event was hosted by St. Christopher House’s The Meeting Place, and covered by local and national news outlets.  
The audience included numerous community organizations and people affected by poverty and the recession, and MP Tony Martin (Social Policy Critic).
You will be able to watch the video shortly at ...

Some key figures from the Coalition's research bulletin:

 The number of single people on Ontario Works (provincial welfare) reached an all-time record of 130,180 in April, 2009.

 Ontario's real unemployment rate (the official unemployment rate, plus people who are "discouraged" and have dropped out of the labour market, plus involuntary part-time workers) is now well into the double digits at 13.6% and is at a staggering 28% for youth aged 15 to 24.

 Credit Canada (which helps people deal with debt) has had a 42% increase in new clients in the past year.

 Not-for-profit and community-based programs and services are being overwhelmed with growing demand; foodbanks in Toronto report that a record one million people were forced to line up for food last year.

In the Bulletin, the Recession Relief Coalition sets out a policy agenda that includes reforms to federal and provincial income assistance programs (including
welfare and Employment Insurance); plus increased funding for the not-for-profit sector, including housing and homelessness programs.

An impressive panel spoke from a number of perspectives, including many people who work on the front-line with those who are affected by this recession.   John Stapleton (Recession Relief Coalition; St. Christopher House/Metcalf Foundation Fellow) moderated the event and outlined the impact of this severe recession on people and community organizations and the failure of our social safety net to support people’s urgent needs.   He highlighted the spike in the number of single people receiving social assistance. Speakers Winnie Ng (Co-Chair, Good Jobs For All Coalition), Laurie Campbell (Executive Director, Credit Canada); Michael Oliphant (Daily Bread Food Bank) and Michael Creek (Coordinator, Voices from the Street) helped to paint a multi-faceted picture of the disturbing impact the recession is having on people, communities and organizations. 

So, you're not worried. You're part of the great Middle Class and you're immune. Watch the video and think again! 

Déjà vu: Ontario’s recession and the 1930s

TORONTO – One year after the Crash of October 2008, Ontario’s recession is looking eerily like the Great Depression and governments need to do something about that, says a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Close Encounters of the Thirties Kind, by social policy expert John Stapleton, is a blow-by-blow account of the similarities between Ontario circa 1930s and today.

“Life was definitely harder back in the Great Depression but the similarities between the types of struggles then and now are eerily familiar,” says Stapleton. “Instead of learning from history, our governments are making many of the same mistakes.”

The report finds 11 similarities between the Great Depression and the Crash of 2008:

1. Both downturns were caused by unplanned economic crashes;
2. Hugh stock market upticks followed both crashes, fuelling debate about the length and shape of the downturn;
3. One year after the crash, governments suffered from ‘optimism bias’;
4. The welfare to wage ratio was, and is, at historic lows;
5. Prior to each crash, the Ontario government ordered a study of social needs – the 1930s reports helped shape future social service programs;
6. Both Ontario governments championed the value of community mobilization;
7. The impulse to blame the victims of recession was equally strong;
8. Immediately following the crash, the federal King government was as silent on the need for help then and as the federal Harper government is now;
9. Workfare existed then and now, but rarely at any other time in Ontario history;
10. The provinces were scared, running deficits and struggling to pay the bills;
11. Then, as now, cash-strapped municipalities bore the brunt of demand from desperate citizens without adequate help from senior governments.

Why don’t we want the poor to own anything?

This report by the Metcalf Foundation  and commented on in the Toronto Star at The welfare asset trap - thestar.com speaks to the most relevant cause of long term, multi generational dependence on social assistance.

“Basically, welfare policy is caught in a trap of its own making that strips

applicants of the same productive assets they will need to leave and stay off

welfare later on.”

Social Planning Toronto Hard Hit

The vital role of the nonprofit community social service sector is never more apparent than during harsh economic times. When communities are reeling from mounting job losses and growing insecurity, organizations on the front lines are called upon to respond. In turn, the capacity of the sector to respond is critical to individual and family well-being and the cohesion of communities.

The following 9 studies and reports from the Ontario Association of Food Banks paint a troubling picture of ever increasing hunger in Ontario where families with children are amongst the hardest hit by insufficient nutrition.

National Post Response

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives sets new standard for silly studies

Posted: October 13, 2009, 1:00 PM by NP Editor

Full Comment, Kelly McParland

I can spot only one weakness with this latest analysis from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which presents itself as "a blow-by-blow account of the similarities between Ontario circa 1930s and today."

In the 1930s there was a Depression that lasted for 10 years. Unemployment was 25%. The Prairies were reduced to a dustbowl. There were few social services to help.

Today none of that is true. Recently we had a moderate recession that lasted a few months, but now it's over and the federal and provincial governments spent billions offsetting the temporary effects.

Other than that, and the fact Ontario today doesn't remotely resemble Ontario 70 years ago, the comparison is astonishing in its timeliness and acuity.

Upcoming:  Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives presents a blow-by-blow account of the similarities between ancient Sumer and Ontario today. (Preview: Sumerians wore clothes. People in Ontario today wear clothes. Coincidence???)

 Ronzig Responds to National Post

Very intelligent analysis, NOT!

You mention the Dust Bowl. Surely an editor of a nearly bankrupt publication such as yours is aware of the prolonged drought that has devastated the American plains and is rapidly expanding towards the Canadian prairies. It seems we may soon have similar environmental conditions to the 30’s to deal with.

The 25% unemployment that you mention was the peak after several years of declining employment levels. We are presently over 10% after only a year and our presently dishonest measuring methodology fails to take into account uncounted hordes of people without jobs who have given up looking because they realise there just aren’t any. In the 30’s the government at least was honest enough to count all unemployed workers in their statistics. Our unemployment rate is still climbing and who knows where it will top out? Furthermore, experts are predicting a jobless recovery that will leave these people permanently unemployed. If that is the case the suffering caused by this economic collapse will far outlast the 10 years of the 30’s depression.  Surely that portends a far worse scenario than the 30’s.

Vital Signs - Community foundations taking the pulse of Canadian communities

Vital Signs is an annual community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our cities, identifies significant trends, and assigns grades in at least ten areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs is based on a project of the Toronto Community Foundation and is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada. The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation provided critical support for the national expansion of the Vital Signs program.

Local Reports

Boundary Communities' Vital Signs 2009, Phoenix Foundation of the Boundary Communities

Calgary's Vital Signs 2009, The Calgary Foundation
Download Calgary news release [PDF]

Central Okanagan's Vital Signs 2009, Central Okanagan Foundation

Guelph & Wellington's Vital Signs 2009, The Guelph Community Foundation
Download Guelph news release [PDF]

Kingston & Area's Vital Signs 2009, Community Foundation for Kingston & Area
Download Kingston news release [PDF]

Medicine Hat's Vital Signs 2009, Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta
Download Medicine Hat news release [PDF]

Oakville's Vital Signs 2009, The Community Foundation of Oakville
Download Oakville news release [PDF]

Ottawa's Vital Signs 2009, Community Foundation of Ottawa
Download Ottawa news release [PDF]

Red Deer's Vital Signs 2009, Red Deer & District Community Foundation
Download Red Deer news release [PDF]

Saint John's Vital Signs 2009, The Greater Saint John Community Foundation
Download Saint John news release [PDF]

Sudbury's Vital Signs 2009, Sudbury Community Foundation

Sunshine Coast's Vital Signs 2009, Sunshine Coast Community Foundation

Toronto's Vital Signs 2009, Toronto Community Foundation
Download Toronto news release [PDF]

Victoria's Vital Signs 2009, Victoria Foundation
Download Victoria news release [PDF]

Waterloo's Vital Signs 2009, Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation and The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation

Wolfville's Vital Signs 2009, Wolfville Community Fund, Community Foundation of Nova Scotia
Download Wolfville news release [PDF]

The Disability Declaration below speaks of human rights that are enshrined in our constitution and in world organizations such as the United Nations. Although this report focuses on the denial of the rights of the disabled, most of what is said is more broadly appropriate as a condemnation of the denial of these same rights to all individuals living in Canada.

This study of the Working Income Tax Benefit points out flaws that fail to address the problems of Ontario residents

seeking to re-enter the work force and recommends solutions to alleviate the situation.

EXPOSED:
Revealing Truths About
Canada’s Recession
By Armine Yalnizyan 

This PDF document which you can download below is on the Toronto & York Region Labour Council website.

Labour Day message:

Workers built Canada; they and their unions help keep it strong

CUPE Labour Day message

By Paul Moist

Ottawa, Ont. - Labour Day is a good time to reflect on the key issues faced by Canadian workers and employers alike. It is also a time to remember the great social and economic advances that have taken place both through struggle and through cooperation in our workplaces.

On a daily basis commentary on Canada’s macro-economic fundamentals indicate that our country, and by extension its citizens, is doing well. Unemployment rates are low, inflation is in check, and the Canadian dollar is strong. In general, the economy is performing well. But there is another perspective that tells a different story.

While our national unemployment rate fell to 32-year low of 6.1 per cent last May, a closer look indicates stubbornly high rates of young workers unemployment about 12 per cent per cent.

While employment growth fuelled by a resource and construction boom is solid, Canada has lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 2002. Most of these were good paying, full-time jobs in manufacturing. But more and more that industrial base rests in foreign hands, a trend that will have significant consequences for our future workforce.

Our country desperately needs a national industrial strategy; our future prosperity depends upon it.

Incomes are on the rise, but a closer look reveals a disturbing pattern. For unionized workers in workplaces with over 500 employees, negotiated pay increases have averaged 2.5 per cent so far this year. Meanwhile, CEOs gave themselves a 39 per cent increase last year.

There is indeed more wealth being generated in Canada. However, it is distributed more unfairly than at anytime in our history.

Real wage growth for workers measured over the decades also reveals a disturbing trend. From 1940 to 1970, real incomes grew by double digits in each decade. This slowed in the 1970s and 1980s, but families still saw their real incomes increase by almost 10 per cent during each decade. During the 1990s, real income growth plummeted and was stagnant for most of the decade.

While the economy has grown at a solid rate in recent years and labour productivity has rebounded, workers are getting a smaller and smaller share of the economic pie, while corporate profits and CEO salaries are taking a bigger and bigger share.

The income experience for Canadian women is an even bleaker story. While there has been a dramatic increase in the participation of women in the paid labour force, full-time women workers still only earn about 71 per cent of what men earn (2003 figures), reflecting an inequity that governments and employers have failed to remedy.

Labour force development issues abound in Canada and while much attention is appropriately focused on immigration levels to fill anticipated job vacancies, little discussion is focused on our education systems and employer investments in the current workforce.

The Conference Board of Canada cites Canada’s slip from 12th to 20th place between 2002 and 2004 in terms of the priority Canadian employers placed on employee training compared to our major trading partners. The Board’s own surveys continue to show that Canada’s employers invest less than other developed countries in per-employee training levels, including about 20 per cent less than employers in the United States.

The high school drop-out rates for Canadian youth remain worryingly high, and for those who complete a post-secondary bachelor degree, government retreat from post-secondary investment leaves graduates with an average personal debt of over $20,000.

Alberta, Canada’s richest province, has the country’s highest high school drop-out rate with one in four failing to graduate. Many view this as a scandalous disgrace. Yet there is little commentary and concern that the same 25 per cent failure rate occurs in the province’s apprenticeship programs. This is shocking in a province experiencing a resource/construction boom with almost daily commentaries about labour shortages.

A recent Alberta Federation of Labour study talks about a, “chaotic diversity of trade definition, trade training and trade standards,” having created a “rigid, inflexible labour market by preventing or discouraging the movement of skilled workers and apprentices between jurisdictions.”

The AFL study strongly urges that, “the Alberta government should make it a priority to work toward harmonization of provincial training programs, standards and trade definitions across Canada.”

I can’t think of a more important labour force development issue than this recommendation, yet such issues seem mired at the bottom of the heap when we witness dialogue amongst federal and provincial leaders.

There is indeed much for workers to celebrate this Labour Day. Workers built Canada and we continue to enjoy the stability and benefits of one of the most productive and stable economies in the world. Their unions help create the certainty and stability Canadians want and deserve.

Still, much remains to be done to address past and present inequities, and to fortify our communities to deal with the challenges of an increasingly uncertain world.

** Paul Moist is National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canada’s largest union.

-30-

For further information: Louise Leclair, CUPE National Communications Director, 613-237-1590 ext 268; Mobile: 778-838-0699; Dan David, Senior Communications Officer, 613-237-1590 ext 267

As part of the United Nations program to achieve a 25% reduction of poverty within a 5 year time frame, they have prepared  this Handbook on poverty .

 This graph shows the steady increase in ODSP cases since the recession began 

This graph shows the monthly change in income of a single person on social assistance since 1935  

This excel worksheet shows a comparison of incomes between a single person working at minimum wage

and a single person on social assistance since 1967

The Directory of Social Change has a vision of an independent voluntary sector at the heart of social change. We believe that the activities of charities and other voluntary organizations are crucial to the health of our society.

Community non-profit organizations had been raising concerns for quite some time about the growing administrative burden and point to such things as more numerous and complex grant application and reporting processes, and additional compliance requirements. We did not, however, have detailed data about the demands funders are placing on the organizations they fund or information on how organizations are managing. Without this information, we could not understand the nature and dimension of the administrative burden on community nonprofit organizations and how this burden affects their ability to deliver services in their communities that are collaborative, innovative, and responsive. The focus of this study was to address this gap in knowledge.

This report is the fourth in a series of annual reports about homelessness in the United States. The report breaks new ground by being the first report to provide year-to-year trend information that explores changes in the patterns of homelessness over time.

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