Canadian Social Research Newsletter
March 25, 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 1787 subscribers.
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see some notes and a disclaimer.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Canadian Content

1. Nova Scotia Provincial Budget 2007 - March 23
2. Ontario Provincial Budget 2007 - March 22 PLUS analysis/review/critique of the Budget by over a dozen social groups PLUS correction: "the clawback of federal child benefits has *not* ended with this budget!"
3. Saskatchewan Provincial Budget 2007 - March 22
4. Federal Budget 2007 (March 19) PLUS analysis/review/critique of the Budget by: CTV * CBC * The Wellesley Institute * Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives * The Turner Report (Garth Turner) * Childcare Resource and Research Unit (University of Toronto) * Opposition Parties * more...
5. The Fiscal Monitor : Highlights of financial results for January 2007 (Department of Finance Canada) - March 19

International Content

6. Poverty Dispatch: U.S. media coverage of social issues and programs

Nova Scotia Provincial Budget 2007
March 23, 2007
- incl. links to:
* Budget Address * Budget Assumptions and Schedules * Budget Bulletins ( Better/Safer Communities - Connected Communities - Debt Management - Healthy Communities - Key Tax Measures - Prosperous Communities - Smart Communities) * Estimates * Estimates Supplementary Details * Crown Corporation Business Plans * Government Business Plan

Source:
Nova Scotia Department of Finance
[Government of Nova Scotia Home Page ]

Budget Highlights - from the Halifax Daily News

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Nova Scotia provincial budget 2007, analysis"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

- Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm
- Go to the Nova Scotia Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/nsbkmrk.htm

Ontario Provincial Budget 2007
March 22, 2007
- incl. links to : Budget Speech *Budget Papers - detailed table of contents with links to all related documents* News Release * Highlights * Business Backgrounder * Children Backgrounder (Ontario Child Benefit info)* Economy Backgrounder * Education Backgrounder * Environment Backgrounder * Social Services Backgrounder * Health Backgrounder * Infrastructure Backgrounder * Rural Backgrounder * Property Tax Backgrounder * Federal Backgrounder * Ontario Child Benefit Calculator
NOTE: I've highlighted only selected links above - to access all budget links, click the main budget link above and select from the links down the left margin of the page.

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT’S 2007 BUDGET EXPANDS OPPORTUNITY
IN A NEW ERA OF ECONOMIC STRENGTH
$2.1 Billion to Help Children and Families, and a Return to Balanced Budgets
March 22, 2007
News Release
Queen’s Park —The McGuinty government’s fourth Budget expands opportunity for all Ontarians by investing in children, continuing to strengthen education, health care and infrastructure and balancing the Budget.

Ontario Budget 2007 Responses - from Barbara Anello of DAWN-Ontario (DisAbled Women's Network Ontario)
March 22, 2007
"Point of clarification: please note that the March 22/07 Ontario Budget did NOT put an end to the clawback."
Budget reactions:
- People from across Ontario are saying Dalton McGuinty's "Don't Believe it Budget" fails to deliver
- CUPE Ontario: Ontario's families will wait for years to benefit from McGuinty's "war" on poverty
- Wellesley Institute: Thanks for the thoughts, but where's the money?
- Ontario Federation of Labour : Wait ...Wait ...Wait
- Accessibility For Ontarians With Disabilities Act Alliance Update: What the Ontario Budget Includes on Disability/Accessibility
- John Tory: McGuinty's Budget: No relief, few results for average taxpayers
- Canadian Auto Workers: Ontario Budget Falls Short of Expectations, Hargrove says
- Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation: Ontario budget increases overall education funding but local programs may still suffer
- Canadian Federation of Students: Ontario Budget Forecast for Students: Higher Tuition Fees and More Debt
- Daily Bread Food Bank: Budget's Ontario Child Benefit gets thumbs up from Daily Bread Food Bank
- Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario: Elementary Teachers Applaud Government Focus on Education
- Community Living Ontario: McGuinty Government's Commitment to Developmental Services Encouraging
- Ontario Association of Food Banks: OAFB welcomes first step on a long journey to reduce poverty in Ontario
- United Ways of Ontario: Budget Addresses Needs of Vulnerable Ontarians
Source:
DAWN-Ontario

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Ontario provincial budget 2007, analysis"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

- Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm
- Go to the Ontario Government Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/onbkmrk.htm

Saskatchewan Provincial Budget 2007
March 22, 2007
- incl. links to : 2007-08 Budget Summary Book - 2007-08 Budget Estimates - 2007-08 Financial Highlights

Budget highlights and related documents

2007–2008 Saskatchewan Community Resources
Performance Plan (PDF file - 251K, 35 pages)

Other Departmental Performance Plans for 2007-2008

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Saskatchewan provincial budget 2007, analysis"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

- Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm
- Go to the Saskatchewan Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/skbkmrk.htm

Budget 2007
Aspire to a Stronger, Safer, Better Canada
March 19
- incl. Speech * Overview * Themes * The Budget Plan * Quick Index

* Budget in Brief: Highlights from each chapter in the Budget Plan.

* Budget at a Glance: A concise summary of the Budget.

Themes:

Environment and Health
Preserving our Environment and Modernizing our Health Care System

Tax Relief
Tax Relief for Families and Businesses

Fiscal Balance
Restoring Fiscal Balance for a Stronger Federation

Security
A Safer Canada

Capital Markets
Creating a Canadian Advantage in Global Capital Markets

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

Related links (analysis, reaction):

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"federal budget 2007, analysis"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

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

Budget 2007 - from CTV

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

In Depth: Federal Budget 2007 - from CBC

Flaherty says budget aimed at middle-class families
March 20, 2007
Source:
CBC News

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

First peek at federal budget 2007: Disappointment!
Wellesley Institute backgrounder: A first look at the 2007 federal budget
The 2007 federal budget entirely ignores Canada’s nation-wide affordable housing crisis and homelessness disaster, and is light when it comes to other social determinants of health.
Source:
Source:
The Wellesley Institute Blog

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

Tax cut budget out of step with Canadians’ priorities
March 19, 2007
OTTAWA—Today’s federal budget may be a short-term attempt to buy votes but it fails to address the long-term priorities of most Canadians, says the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Source:
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)

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

The Turner Report
Garth Turner Unedited
Garth Turner's unadulterated views on the 2007 Budget of his former party
[NOTE: scroll down the main page for several blog entries about the 2007 federal budget.]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

From the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) at the University of Toronto:

Federal Budget 2007: What does it mean for early learning and child care?

FEDERAL BUDGET 2007
19 Mar 07
Federal budget announces $250 million transfer for early learning and child care. Funding will flow to provinces through the Canada Social Transfer after a transitional year.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=98154

Excerpt from the Budget Plan:
Budget 2007 proposes to provide a 25-per-cent investment tax credit to businesses that create new child care spaces in the workplace to a maximum of $10,000 per space created. It also proposes to provide annual additional funding of $250 million to provinces and territories to support the creation of child care spaces that are responsive to the needs of parents, and are administered in an efficient and accountable manner. This funding will continue to grow over time as a result of the annual 3-per-cent escalator that is part of the renewed CST.

-------------------------------------------------------
Responses to Budget from NGOs
--------------------------------------------------------

BUDGET MESSAGE ON CHILD CARE: LET PARENTS EAT CAKE
Code Blue for Child Care, 19 Mar 07
http://www.buildchildcare.ca/www/News/Budget_message_on_ch

HARPER’S CUT AND RUN APPROACH HURTING FAMILIES
Child Care Advocacy Association, 19 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/ccaac/alerts.shtml?x=98130

CCCF URGES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PLAY LEADERSHIP ROLE IN ENSURING QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR FAMILIES
Canadian Child Care Federation, 19 Mar 07
http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/pressroom/federal_budget07_March19_en.htm

FEDERAL BUDGET FAILS TO MAKE POVERTY REDUCTION A PRIORITY FOR CANADA
Campaign 2000, 19 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/c2000/alerts.shtml?x=98177

OPEN LETTER TO LEADERS OF THE FEDERAL OPPOSITION PARTIES
Code Blue for Child Care, 17 Mar 07
http://www.buildchildcare.ca/updir/buildchildcare/budget_open_letter.pdf

HARPER’S FLIP ON CHILD CARE SHOWS GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES A FLOP
Code Blue for Child Care, 15 Mar 07
http://www.buildchildcare.ca/www//harpers_flip_on_chil

------------------------------------------
Related documents
------------------------------------------

ALTERNATIVE FEDERAL BUDGET 2007: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 15 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=97941

------------------------------------------
Reaction from Opposition Parties
------------------------------------------

CONSERVATIVE BUDGET FAILS CANADIANS
Liberal Party of Canada, 19 Mar 07
Excerpt: In 2006, the Conservatives promised 125,000 new child care spaces over 5 years. Fourteen months into its mandate, Canadian families are realizing this promise wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on: there have been zero spaces created in the past year. What’s worse, the so-called Universal Child Care benefit – neither universal nor child care – is fully taxable, and the government will rake in an average of $400 per family thanks to this. The 2006 Child Care Plan was a complete failure. Why should Canadians believe the so-called "new approach" will be any better?
http://www.liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?type=news&id=12583

BUDGET FAILS TO CLOSE PROSPERITY GAP
NDP, 19 Mar 07
Excerpt: Despite the growing need of working families, this government ignored the call for a universal, accessible and affordable national child care program...
http://www.ndp.ca/page/5030

--------------------
News articles
--------------------

Provinces, territories to share $250M for child-care spaces
Ottawa Citizen, 20 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=98198

It's a sprinkle of cash for all: Conservatives have worked hard to placate voters
National Post, 20 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=98195

The winners and losers [CA]
Penticton Herald, 20 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=98190

Tax break up to $310 to be given for children under 18
Globe and Mail, 20 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=98174

Child care: Tories do an about-face [CA]
National Post, 19 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=98155

Tories reverse course on child care [CA]
Macleans, 15 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=97935

Tories expected to flip-flop on child care spaces [CA]
Ottawa Citizen, 15 Mar 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=97934

Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) - University of Toronto

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

- Go to the Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets.htm

The Fiscal Monitor
Highlights of financial results for January 2007
March 19, 2007

Highlights
January 2007: budgetary surplus of $2.3 billion
April 2006 to January 2007: budgetary surplus of $9.5 billion

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

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

Poverty Dispatch - U.S.
- links to news items from the American press about poverty, welfare reform, child welfare, education, health, hunger, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.
NOTE: this is a link to the current issue --- its content changes twice a week.

Past Poverty Dispatches
- links to two dispatches a week back to June 1 (2006) when the Dispatch acquired its own web page and archive.

Poverty Dispatch Digest Archive - weekly digest of dispatches from August 2005 to May 2006
For a few years prior to the creation of this new web page for the 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.

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

- 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

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 ]

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

The e-mail version of this newsletter is available only in plain text (no graphics, no hyperlinks, no fancy bolding or italics, etc.) to avoid security problems with government departments, universities and other networks with firewalls. The text-only version is also friendlier for people using older or lower-end technology.

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...

To access earlier online HTML issues of the Canadian Social Research Newsletter, go to the Newsletter page:
http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/news.htm

Please feel free to distribute this newsletter as widely as you wish, but please remember to mention Canadian Social Research Links when you do.

Cheers!
Gilles

E-MAIL:
gilseg@rogers.com