Canadian Social Research Newsletter
June 24, 2007

Welcome to the weekly Canadian Social Research Newsletter,
a listing of the new links added to the Canadian Social Research Links website in the past week.

The e-mail version of this week's issue of the newsletter is going out to 1793 subscribers.
(For those devout subscribers who are concerned about the decrease in the number of subscribers (from a high of 1800 in May), dontcha worry - it's summer slippage.
A blip.
(;-D

Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see some notes and a disclaimer.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Canadian Content

1. National Aboriginal Day - June 21
2. What's New from Statistics Canada:
--- National balance sheet accounts, first quarter 2007 - June 22
--- Perspectives on Labour and Income (June 2007 online edition) - June 22
--- Pension plans in Canada, as of January 1, 2006 - June 21
--- Leading indicators, May 2007 - June 20
--- Consumer Price Index, May 2007 - June 19
--- Study: Canadians and their non-voting political activity, 2003 - June 19
--- Study: Maternal employment, breastfeeding and health, 1998 to 2003 - June 19
3. Annual Report of the Canada Pension Plan 2005-06 (Human Resources and Social Development Canada) - May 28
4. Making a Strong Canadian Economy Even Stronger (News Release) - Department of Finance Canada - June 20
5. Newfoundland and Labrador : Opposition Fails to Understand Poverty Reduction Strategy (Human Resources, Labour and Employment) - June 14
6. Ontario : McGuinty Government Helping Build Job Opportunities For People on Social Assistance (Ministry of Community and Social Services) - June 22
7. What's New - from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (University of Toronto) - June 22

International Content

8. Poverty Dispatch: U.S. media coverage of social issues and programs
9. Australian Policy Online:
--- Globalisation, jobs and wages (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) - Posted 21-06-2007
--- Guidelines for the design of remote Indigenous community housing (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute) - Posted 21-06-2007
--- Working Time Arrangements, Australia, Nov 2006 (Australian Bureau of Statistics) - Posted 21-06-2007
--- How Australian families spend their time (Australian Institute of Family Studies) - Posted 21-06-2007
10. Child Rights in the European Union + CRINMAIL #891 (Child Rights Information Network)

Have a great week!

National Aboriginal Day - June 21

Share in the Celebration!
On June 21st, 2007, Canadians from all walks of life are invited to participate in the many National Aboriginal Day events that will be taking place from coast to coast to coast. June 21st kick starts the 11 days of Celebrate Canada! which includes National Aboriginal Day (June 21), Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24), Multiculturalism Day (June 27) and concluding with Canada Day (July 1)!

- incl. links to : * Minister Jim Prentice on National Aboriginal Day * Events * Products and Resources * History * Kid's Stop * Announcement - National Aboriginal Day * Public Service Announcement (Strategic Alliance of Broadcasters for Aboriginal Reflection)

Source:
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada

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First Nations National Day of Action - June 29
- incl. links to two videos - one on the "Make Poverty History for First Nations" initiative and one announcing the National Day of Action - as well as messages of solidarity and more...

National Day of Action - June 29 (PDF file - 79K, 1 page)
Poster
The National Day of Action is an opportunity for First Nations and Canadians to stand together in a spirit of unity to support a better life for all First Nations peoples. Let us stand together to put an end to First Nations poverty as the greatest social injustice in Canada. Together, we can demonstrate that the relationship between First Nations and Canadians is based on principles of RESPECT, DIGNITY and FAIRNESS.

On June 29th, National Chief Phil Fontaine will give voice to First Nations CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND ELDERS – who will be leading our March of Solidarity.
The March will start at 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 29th from Ottawa City Hall (Festival Plaza) at 110 Laurier Avenue West to Victoria Island, traditional land of the Algonquin Nation.

Questions & Answers
about the National Day of Action

How can I support the support the National Day of Action?
- how to show your support for the National Day of Action whether you're part of the general public, the private sector, a trade union, a citizen's coalition or a public advocacy organization

National Event Schedule

----------------------------

New from the CBC:

CBC Launches Aboriginal Website
June 21, 2007
Vancouver– As part of CBC’s commitment to bring diverse regional and cultural perspectives into the daily lives of Canadians, CBC is launching a comprehensive, media-rich website called CBC ABORIGINAL. The official website launch coincides with National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, 2007 and brings together CBC’s coverage of aboriginal issues on Television, Newsworld, Radio and CBCNews.ca.

CBC Aboriginal Website
"CBC ABORIGINAL features current and archival content with accompanying history and background to topical issues. Content includes weekly news stories, art and culture insights, regional content, on-line polls and profiles of aboriginal personalities."

Also from the CBC:

National Aboriginal Day

In Depth: Aboriginal Canadians

The Battle for Aboriginal Treaty Rights

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Google Web Search Results : "Aboriginal Day, Canada"
Google News Search Results : "Aboriginal Day, Canada "
Google Blog Search Results : "Aboriginal Day, Canada "
Source:
Google.ca

----------------------------

- Go to the First Nations Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/1stbkmrk.htm

What's New from The Daily [Statistics Canada]:

June 22, 2007
National balance sheet accounts, first quarter 2007
National net worth reached $5.3 trillion by the end of the first quarter, or $159,900 per capita. National net worth expanded by $134 billion, or 2.6%, in the first quarter, a pace just under that of the two previous quarters.

Related link:

National Balance Sheet Accounts, Quarterly Estimates - First quarter 2007
* Highlights
* Statistical tables
* Related products
* Related documentation
* More information
* PDF version (236K, 68 pages)

June 22, 2007
Government spending on social services, 1989 to 2007
Spending on social services has more than doubled in Canada during the past two decades, but it still represents only about one-third of total consolidated government program expenditures.

June 22, 2007
Perspectives on Labour and Income
June 2007 online edition
The June 2007 online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income, released today, features three articles:

"Labour inputs to non-profit organizations" looks at the composition of labour inputs to the non-profit sector, using the full-time equivalent concept as a standard unit of measure. The article also compares the reliance of different non-profit organizations on three types of labour: volunteers, employees, and contractors.

"Trends and seasonality in absenteeism" examines two types of illness-related absences separately: full-week and part-week absences. Although part-week absences are more likely to be unannounced and disruptive to managers and co-workers, they had not previously been examined separately. The article also looks at the seasonality in part- and full-week absences.

"Working at home: An update" looks at the somewhat surprising stall in telework popularity in recent years.

Earlier issues of Perspectives on Labour and Income (monthly, back to 2000) - including at least one feature article per issue

June 21, 2007
Pension plans in Canada, as of January 1, 2006
After several years of growth, membership in Canada's 15,130 active registered pension plans remained virtually unchanged in 2005, according to new data from an annual census of these employer-sponsored plans.

June 20, 2007
Leading indicators, May 2007
The growth of the composite leading index was steady at 0.5% in May. In total, 8 of the 10 components rose, the same as in April. The components related to household spending improved markedly, while export demand for manufacturers remained the weakest sector. This is the sectoral pattern of demand to be expected during a period when the exchange rate is appreciating.
Source:
Canadian Economic Observer - June 2007
- incl. links to info on : * Current economic conditions * Economic events * Feature article ("Labour Force Projections for Canada, 2006-2031") * Tables * Charts * User information
* PDF version (701K, 113 pages)

Earlier issues of the Canadian Economic Observer

June 19, 2007
Consumer Price Index, May 2007
Consumer prices increased 2.2% on average in May 2007 compared with May 2006, identical to the 12-month change in April. The Bank of Canada's core index also rose 2.2% over the same time period, a marked slowdown from the 2.5% increase posted the previous month.

June 19, 2007
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 in Canadian Social Trends.

June 19, 2007
Study: Maternal employment, breastfeeding and health, 1998 to 2003
Longer maternity leaves for Canadian mothers have meant that more of them have met breastfeeding targets recommended by public health agencies, according to a new study. The study examined the impact that an increase in maternity leave entitlement had on time away from work, breastfeeding, and the health of both mothers and their children.

- Go to the Seniors (Social Research) Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/seniors.htm
- Go to the Federal Government Department Links (Fisheries and Oceans to Veterans Affairs) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/fedbkmrk2.htm
- Go to the Canadian Government Sites about Women's Social Issues page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/women.htm

Annual Report of the Canada Pension Plan 2005-06
- tabled in the House on Monday May 28, 2007
Table of contents:
* Her Excellency
* Foreword: The Canada Pension Plan - 40 Years Strong!
* 2005-06 The Year at a Glance
* The Canada Pension Plan in Brief
* Benefits and Expenditures ( Retirement Pensions - Disability Benefits - Survivor Benefits - Death Benefits - Other Provisions - The Appeals Process)
* Ensuring Financial Sustainability (Actuarial Reporting - A Fair Approach to Funding - Steady-state Financing
* Financial Accountability (CPP Account - CPP Assets and Cash Management - CPP Investment Board - CPP Investments - Investing for our Future)
* Managing the CPP (Collecting and Recording Contributions - Overpayment of Benefits - 2004 Budget Changes - Administrative Costs
* Improved Service Delivery - Service Canada (Reaching out to Canadians - Delivering Service - Processing Benefit
* Looking to the Future - Service Canada (Information Technology Renewal Delivery System - Online Service Delivery - Simplifying the Application Process - Reaching all Canadians
* Canada Pension Plan Financial Statements

Source:
Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)

Related links from HRSDC:

Canada Pension Plan

CPP Statistics (also includes Old Age Security stats)

Canada Pension Plan publications

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
("CPP Fund $116.6 Billion At March 2007")

- Go to the Human Resources and Social Development Canada Links page - http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/hrsdc.htm

Making a Strong Canadian Economy Even Stronger
News Release
June 20, 2007
Statement by the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Canada’s New Government at the conclusion of meetings with his provincial and territorial counterparts.
Source:
Department of Finance Canada

- Go to the Federal Government Department Links (Agriculture to Finance) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/fedbkmrk.htm

Opposition Fails to Understand Poverty Reduction Strategy
June 14, 2007
News Release
The Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, said he is disappointed with claims by the Opposition that government is failing in the fight against poverty in our province.
Source:
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
[Government of Newfoundland and Labrador]

Related links:

Poverty Reduction Strategy (2005)
Poverty reduction papers

Related link:

The above news release states that only one other Canadian province has a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy.
Here's a link to info on that strategy:
Québec : National Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion
- includes * Overview * Summary of consultation process * Bill * Parliamentary committee * Useful links
- also includes links to three QC government policy documents.

Google.ca Web search results page - "Poverty Reduction Strategy, Canada"

An international context from the World Bank:

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
"Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) describe a country's macroeconomic, structural and social policies and programs to promote growth and reduce poverty, as well as associated external financing needs. PRSPs are prepared by governments through a participatory process involving civil society and development partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."

- Go to the Newfoundland and Labrador Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/nfbkmrk.htm

June 22, 2007
McGuinty Government Helping Build Job Opportunities For People on Social Assistance
OTTAWA – The McGuinty government is opening the door to job opportunities for Ontarians on social assistance by funding innovative community projects that connect local businesses with job-ready people, Minister of Community and Social Services Madeleine Meilleur announced today.
Source:
Ministry of Community and Social Services
[Government of Ontario]

What's New - from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) - University of Toronto

The Childcare Resource and Research Unit offers a free weekly "e-mail news notifier" service.

22-Jun-07

---------------------------------------------------
What's New
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BRINGING POLITICS INTO THE NURSERY: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS A DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE
Working paper by Peter Moss for the Bernard van Leer Foundation discusses how “institutions providing early childhood care and education can become forums for democratic political practice.”
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104824

INTERVIEW ON FAMILY BENEFITS PACKAGES IN ALBERTA AND BC WITH PAUL KERSHAW OF UBC
Institute for Research on Public Policy interviews Paul Kershaw about his recent study “Measuring Up: Family Benefits in British Columbia and Alberta in International Perspective”.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104823

THE ABBOTT PRESCHOOL PROGRAM LONGITUDINAL EFFECTS STUDY (APPLES): INTERIM REPORT
Study from the National Institute for Early Education Research (US) seeks to determine if the learning gains from a state pre-K program continued throughout the kindergarten year.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104822

THE CHALLENGES OF CHANGE: LEARNING FROM THE CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION EXPERIENCES OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
Report from the Center for Law and Social Policy (US) identifies barriers that impede immigrant families from accessing high-quality ECEC programs and highlights strategies for change.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104821

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Child care in the news
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Provide quality, affordable child care for all [CA-NB]
Moncton Times and Transcript, 22 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104813

Canadians need to copy Nordic countries by targeting poverty [CA]
Montreal Gazette, 20 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104816

Alberta Children's Services looking for feedback on child care initiatives [CA-AB]
Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune, 19 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104814

Dawson Creek tough place to live for single parents [CA-BC]
Kamloops Daily News, 19 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104817

Deregulation cited for day-care woes; Opposition say provincial assistance might be needed [CA]
Edmonton Sun, 19 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104818

Parents desperate for any child care [CA-ON]
Toronto Star, 18 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104820

Keep better track of child care funds [CA]
Toronto Star, 17 Jun 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=104819

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This message was forwarded through the Childcare Resource
and Research Unit e-mail news notifier. For information on the
CRRU e-mail notifier, including instructions for (un)subscribing,
see http://www.childcarecanada.org

The Childcare Resource and Research Unit
University of Toronto, Canada
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Related links:

What's New Online
Links to child care sites in Canada and elsewhere
CRRU Publications - briefing notes, factsheets, occasional papers and other publications
ISSUE files - theme pages, each filled with contextual information and links to further info

Link to the CRRU home page:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) - University of Toronto

- Go to the Non-Governmental Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd2.htm

Poverty Dispatch (U.S). ===> the content of this link changes each week
- links to news items from the American press about poverty, welfare reform, child welfare, education, health, hunger, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.

Source:
Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
[ University of Wisconsin-Madison ]

This week's issues of Poverty Dispatch:

June 21 issue
* Welfare-to-Work Job Programs - Wisconsin, Ohio
* Privatization of Social Services - Indiana
* State Children's Health Insurance Program
* Editorial: Medicaid ID Requirement
* New Jersey Budget and Medicaid Copays
* Illinois Budget and Program Spending
* Conditional Cash Transfer Program - New York City
* Low-income Families and Higher Costs for Services - Kentucky
* Editorial: Revoking Drivers Licenses for Non-traffic Offenses
* Payday Lending Regulation - Tennessee, Georgia
* State and Federal Minimum Wages
* Immigration and Low-wage Work
* Politics and Poverty
* Achievement Gap and No Child Left Behind
* States and Prison Overcrowding and Costs

June 18 issue
* State Children's Health Insurance Program
* Medicaid Reform - Texas
* Medicaid and Dental Coverage for Adults - Washington, D.C.
* Health Insurance Coverage - South Dakota
* Editorial: Food Stamp Eligibility
* Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) - Michigan
* Hunger Rate - California
* Minimum Wage - New York
* Low-income Housing - Los Angeles, CA
* Editorial: Education Gap - Minnesota
* Opinion: Poverty and Politics
* Immigration and State and Local Legislation
* Editorial: Income Inequality

Past Poverty Dispatches
- links to two dispatches a week back to June 2006

Poverty Dispatch Digest Archive - weekly digest of dispatches from August 2005 to May 2006
For a few years prior to the creation of the Poverty Dispatch, I was compiling a weekly digest of the e-mails and redistributing the digest to my mailing list with IRP's permission.
This is my own archive of weekly issues of the digest back to August 2005, and most of them have 50+ links per issue. I'll be deleting this archive from my site gradually, as the links to older articles expire.

- Go to the Links to American Government Social Research page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us.htm
- Go to the Links to American Non-Governmental Social Research (A-J) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us2.htm
- Go to the Links to American Non-Governmental Social Research (M-Z) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us3.htm

APO Weekly Briefing ===> the content of this link changes each week
The content of this page changes each week, and it includes links to a few book/report reviews, about two dozen new reports, a few job ads and 60+ events (mostly conferences) of interest to social researchers...
Source:
Australian Policy Online (APO)
With nearly 120 member centres and institutes, Australian Policy Online offers easy access to much of the best Australian social, economic, cultural and political research available online.
NOTE: the APO home page includes links to the five most popular reports on the APO website, and this list is updated each week.

APO Archive
The APO archive is grouped into 23 subject areas, with entries appearing in reverse chronological order.
* Ageing *Asia and the pacific * Citizenship and the law * Disability * Economics and trade * Education * Employment and workplace relations * The environment * Foreign policy and defence * Gender and sexuality * Health * Housing * Families and households * Immigration and refugees * Income, poverty and wealth * Indigenous * Media, communications and cultural policy * Politics and government * Population, multiculturalism and ethnicity * Religion and faith * Rural and regional * Science and technology * Social policy * Urban and regional planning * Youth

--------------------------------------

Sample APO content from the latest issue:

Globalisation, jobs and wages
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Posted 21-06-2007
Open trade and investment policies can be a powerful force for raising living standards. But while trade raises overall income and welfare, some workers may lose from globalisation. It is timely to reassess whether there is anything about the current phase of globalisation which could increase the vulnerability of workers and, if so, how governments should react. This Policy Brief summarises the main lessons.
- incl. links to the complete report, the website of the OECD and related links from APO

Guidelines for the design of remote Indigenous community housing
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute
Posted 21-06-2007
A response to the need for a flexible framework of design guidelines for remote Indigenous housing. The project provides concepts and design principles to supplement the focus on safety, health, quality control and sustainability in the National Indigenous Housing Guide and related State and Territory guidelines, with principles for the design of Indigenous housing that reflect the cultural and social requirements of Indigenous communities in remote Australia.

Working Time Arrangements, Australia, Nov 2006
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Posted 21-06-2007
In November 2006, there were 8.6 million employees aged 15 years and over. Of these, 92% (8 million) were employees. Of these 60% did not have any say in their start and finish times, 72% could choose when their holidays were taken, and 38% were able to work extra hours in order to take time off according to this ABS study.

How Australian families spend their time
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Posted 21-06-2007
Social, economic and technological change has altered the way in which families spend time together. This fact sheet discusses these trends.

- Go to the Social Research Links in Other Countries (Non-Government) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/internatngo.htm

From the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN)

Child Rights in the European Union - NEW
At present, the European Union (EU) institution has no obligation to respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). However, all EU Member States as individuals are bound to it as they ratified the Convention.

Related links:

European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC)
Established in 1997, ENOC links independent offices for children from twelve countries in Europe. Its aims are:
* to encourage the fullest possible implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the child,
* to support collective lobbying for children’s rights,
* to share information, approaches and strategies,
* and to promote the development of effective independent offices for children.

European Children's Network (EURONET)
The European Children's Network - EURONET - is a coalition of networks and organisations campaigning for the interests and rights of children (defined in the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as all persons under 18 years of age). They share a common concern that children's rights should be taken into account in all EU legislation, policies and programmes which have an impact on children's rights.

Also from CRIN

CRINMAIL 891 - 21 June 2007
Table of contents of this issue:
- EU-AFRICA: Plan to promote involvement of child rights organisations [call for participation]
- IRAN: Leads the world in executing children [news]
- SIERRA LEONE: First war crimes verdicts [news]
- TRAFFICKING: The U.S. Response to Human Trafficking: An Unbalanced Approach [publication]
- EUROPEAN UNION: Strategy for Children’s Rights discussed [publication]
- FRANCE: Seminar on child labour, education and youth employment [event and call for papers]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**
**QUIZ**

Earlier issues of CRINMAIL

Source:
CRINMAIL(incl. subscription info)
[ Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) ]

- Go to the Children's Rights Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/chnrights.htm

Disclaimer/Privacy Statement

Both Canadian Social Research Links (the site) and this Canadian Social Research Newsletter belong solely to me, Gilles Séguin.

I am solely accountable for the choice of links presented therein and for the occasional editorial comment - it's my time, my home computer, my experience, my biases, my Rogers Internet account and my web hosting service.

I administer the mailing list and distribute the weekly newsletter using software on the web server of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
Thanks, CUPE!

If you wish to subscribe to the e-mail version of newsletter, go to the Canadian Social Research Newsletter Online Subscription page:
http://lists.cupe.ca/mailman/listinfo/csrl-news

You can unsubscribe by going to the same page or by sending me an e-mail message [ gilseg@rogers.com ]

------------------------

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Privacy Policy:
The Canadian Social Research Newsletter mailing list is not used for any purpose except to distribute each weekly issue.
I promise not share any information on this list, nor to send you any junk mail.

Links presented in the Canadian Social Research Newsletter point to different views about social policy and social programs.
There are some that I don't agree with, so don't get on my case, eh...

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http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/news.htm

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Cheers!
Gilles

E-MAIL:
gilseg@rogers.com