Canadian Social Research Newsletter
March 28, 2010

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 2,248 subscribers.

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Haiti Relief - from the CBC
- links to information resources, more organizations accepting donations

Canadian content

2010 Ontario Budget (main budget page)
March 25, 2010
- links to all budget papers, news releases, sector highlights, backgrounders, etc.

Budget Speech

Budget Highlights

Budget papers table of contents

2010 Ontario Budget: Sector Highlights
Poverty Reduction Strategy
- one per cent increase in adult basic-needs allowances and maximum shelter allowances in Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program in the fall of 2010.
- Special Diet Allowance - being phased out and replaced by a new nutritional supplement program to be administered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
- Ontario commits $63.5 million a year permanently in the area of child care, to fill the gap left by the federal government (since the termination of the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement).
- provincial minimum wage will rise to $10.25/hour on March 31, 2010.
- $11.8 billion in tax relief for people over three to enhance ongoing sales and property tax relief, cut personal income taxes and help Ontarians adjust to the transition to the Harmonized Sales Tax
NOTE: the remainder of the highlights page is an overview of poverty reduction measures announced since the previous Ontario budget, such as the Social Assistance Review Advisory Council, new housing infrastructure initiatives, increased funding for the Youth Opportunities Strategy, improvements to dental services for kids in low-income families, full-day learning for four- and five-year olds, and more...

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Related links:

From the
Recession Relief Coalition:

Review of Ontario's 2010 Provincial Budget
Posted March 27, 2010
HTML version
PDF version (21K, 2 pages)
"(...) In the Budget, the Finance Minister ignored the Ministry of Community and Social Services-led Social Assistance Review Advisory Group and implemented none of its short term recommendations. However, on the same day as the Budget, social services Minister Meilleur wrote to the Advisory Group promising to make good on four of their recommendations that were seen to be outside of the Budgetary process.

The Ministry will:
· stop deducting some more of the payments made by family members to recipients,
· shorten suspension periods for non-compliance,
· stop the catch-22 that results when recipients pay down government debt with windfalls and then get disqualified from benefits for doing what they are told to do; and
· allow recipients to share accommodation without suffering penalties for doing so.

Perhaps more interesting are the allocations made to MCSS. The government will allocate $500 million to MCSS for 2010-2011 for social assistance but only $57 million for the rate increase meaning that $443 million is allocated for caseload growth..."
Source:
Recession Relief Coalition

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From
CBC Toronto:

Ontario unveils 8-year deficit plan
Budget freezes public sector salaries, boosts university funding
March 25, 2010
The Ontario government mapped a slow road to balancing the province's books on Thursday, projecting a deficit of $19.7 billion for fiscal year 2010-11 and saying it would stay in the red until 2017-18. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan tabled a $125.9 billion budget that had little in the way of new spending or direct cuts to programs but promised to reduce the deficit by half in five years and eliminate it completely in eight.

Budget not enough to help Ont. economy: Opposition
The provincial Conservatives slammed the Ontario government's budget, saying it didn't deliver a plan for restoring the provincial economy.
Source:
CBC Toronto

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From
25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction:

Budget throws Ontario’s poor in limbo
March 25, 2010
The sting of recession and deep-seated poverty will continue for too many Ontarians who were left behind in today’s provincial budget, says the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction. “While the provincial government held the line on some poverty reduction promises, it has thrown 162,000 Ontarians with special dietary needs into limbo by announcing the replacement of the Special Diet program with another initiative – the details of which are yet to be worked out,” says 25 in 5 co-chair Michael Creek. “There are a lot of unanswered questions about the adequacy of the new nutrition supplement.”
Source:
25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction

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From the
Social Policy Network:

2010 Budget Holds Only Threat For Ontario’s Most Vulnerable
TORONTO, March 25, 2010
The 2010 Budget fails the test of a Government committed to a comprehensive poverty reduction plan for Ontarians. An amount of $57 million is designated as an increase to the Basic Needs Allowance for people on social assistance, which is 1%, while inflation is projected to be 2% or higher in 2010.
Source:
Social Policy Network
The Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) is a coalition of social planning councils (SPC), community development councils (CDC), resource centres, and planning committees located in various communities throughout Ontario. Each of the individual organizations has their own mandates but are connected in the cause of effecting change on social policies, conditions, and issues.

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From the
Wellesley Institute:

Ontario income assistance changes will make it harder to get healthy, nutritious food
March 26, 2010
About 162,000 Ontarians with special nutrition needs were told in yesterday’s Ontario budget that their special diet allowance is being cancelled and will be replaced, at some point, with an unspecified new mechanism.

Ontario releases cautious 2010 budget
March 25, 2010
The Ontario government’s 2010 provincial budget sets out a cautious fiscal plan for the coming year

Source:
Wellesley Institute Blog
[ Wellesley Institute ]

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Welfare isn't broken so it won't be fixed
March 24, 2010
Opinion
By Simon Black
On Thursday, provincial Finance Minister Dwight Duncan will deliver the government of Ontario's budget for 2010. As reported in last Wednesday's Star, Duncan is set to announce investments in post-secondary education as part of the province's Open Ontario plan and has pledged not to embark on a reckless deficit reduction program that would threaten jobs, services, and Ontario's economic recovery. It is also widely expected Duncan will announce action on the province's social assistance programs, Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). And while anti-poverty advocates have long demanded major improvements to these programs, they shouldn't hold their breath.
Source:
Toronto Star

- Go to the 2010 Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets_2010.htm
- Go to the Ontario Government Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/onbkmrk.htm

From the Calgary Herald:

Alberta cuts education support for low-income students
March 26, 2010
CALGARY — The Alberta government is cutting $12.5 million from Alberta Works, a welfare program that helps adults with lower incomes upgrade their education. Under the current program, a qualifying apprentice with no children is eligible for $869 a month in addition to EI to help cover job-related expenses, as well as childcare and rent costs. That will decrease to $834. Similarly, a couple with two children who once collected $2,302 a month in provincial welfare benefits will receive only $1,847. According to provincial Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk, the changes are meant to equalize benefits for all students collecting income support under what's known as the "learner" category. Currently, two students with the same family size can conceivably receive different levels of funding, he said.

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Tory cuts sting poor:
Welfare rates rolled back for adult education
March 27, 2010
Premier Ed Stelmach acknowledged Friday that provincial budget cuts will erode services for Alberta's most vulnerable, but stressed his government will minimize fallout on welfare recipients, foster parents and the disabled. After a week of being criticized by social agencies and political opponents for cuts to foster care and adults with developmental disabilities, the Stelmach government announced Friday rollbacks of welfare rates for Albertans looking to upgrade their education.

Source:
Calgary Herald

Related links:

Alberta Budget 2010, Striking the Right Balance
February 9, 2010

Budget summary by ministry
"The 2010-11 budget includes:
...
* $582 million for income supports and related health benefits, a $47-million reduction from 2009-10. Savings will be realized by redirecting potential expected-to-work income-support clients to employment services, training or work opportunities. As well, benefits to new learners will be reduced. Funding commitments to existing learners will be honoured at current benefit rates. Fewer income-support clients will also result in savings in the health benefit programs.
* $177 million for employment and training programs, a $15-million reduction from 2009-10.
..." (p.4)
Source:
Budget summary by ministry

More links to Alberta Budget 2010 analysis and critique - this link takes you to the 2010 budgets page of this website

- Go to the Alberta Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/abkmrk.htm

Release of The Fiscal Monitor for January 2010
March 26, 2010
The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today released The Fiscal Monitor for January 2010.
Highlights:
January 2010: budgetary deficit of $0.3 billion
April 2009 to January 2010: budgetary deficit of $39.6 billion

Related document:
* The Fiscal Monitor for January 2010

[ earlier issues of The Fiscal Monitor ]

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

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

From Saskatchewan Finance:

Saskatchewan Budget 2010-11
- main budget page, includes links to all budget papers

Budget Address (HTML)

Budget highlights

Budget highlights (PDF - 151K, 2 pages)
[ version française - fichier PDF ]

Budget summary (PDF - 1.3MB, 95 pages)

Estimates (PDF - 27MB, 198 pages)

Government delivers balanced budget by reducing spending (PDF - 53K, 3 pages)
News Release
March 24, 2010
The provincial government today delivered a balanced budget by reducing overall government spending by $121.3 million or 1.2 per cent from last year’s budget. (...) Reductions have been realized in 14 ministries and there will be lower debt-servicing costs this year, as a result of the government paying down debt by more than $2.6 billion in recent years. As part of the restraint measures, the government has embarked on a process to reduce the size and cost of government operations.

Other news releases
(Click this link then select a news release from the list below.)
* 2010-11 Facts and Figures
* Post-Secondar Education High Priority in Budget
* Agriculture Budget Focuses on Farmers and Ranchers
* Province Continues to Invest in Young People
* Health Budget Addresses Priorities
* Budget 2010-11 Continues Historic Committment to Highways*
* Infrastructure Funding Revenue Sharing Highlighted in Budget
* Beverage Alcohol Prices to Increase
* Government Invests in Housing, Children and Families
* Government Provides SCN Core Services in More Efficient Manner

Source:
Saskatchewan Finance

Related links:

From
CBC Saskatchewan:

Saskatchewan cuts jobs, spending
Cigarette taxes up, potash revenues down
March 24, 2010
Selected highlights:
* $10.1B spending plan, down $121M from last year.
* $20M surplus, thanks to $194M from rainy-day fund.
* 15 per cent cut in workforce over four years.
* Elimination of 528 positions this year.
* Three per cent increase in health spending
* $220M in potash revenue, down 90%.
* No changes to sales tax or income tax.
* Closure of Saskatchewan Communication Network.
* 67 cent increase for pack of cigarettes.
* One tax-free carton of cigarettes a week for First Nations smokers, down from three.
* Beer-price hike of 75 cents per 12 bottles.
* End to universal chiropractic subsidy.

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From
TheStarPhoenix.com:

Highlights of Saskatchewan's 2010-11 budget
March 24, 2010

Saskatchewan Party government slams on the brakes with 2010-11 provincial budget
March 25, 2010

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From the
Regina Leader-Post:

2010 Saskatchewan Budget

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- Go to the 2010 Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets_2010.htm
- Go to the Saskatchewan Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/skbkmrk.htm

New from the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM):

Canada's social safety net is fraying, cities strain to fill the gaps,
says new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
News release
March 24, 2010
The federal and provincial retreat from traditional social transfers in the 1990s has frayed Canada´s social safety net, and cities are now struggling to fill the growing gaps. That trend, exacerbated by the current recession and growing urbanization, is the principal finding of a new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

* The complete report:

Mending Canada’s frayed social safety net:
The role of municipal governments (PDF - 1.8MB, 72 pages)
Theme Report #6

* Backgrounder (PDF - 52K, 2 pages)

* Facts and Figures (PDF - 39K, 1 page)

Earlier Theme Reports Produced
by the Quality of Life Reporting System
(Click this link to access all five of the reports listed below and a few more...)
:: Theme report #5 (2009) - Immigration & Diversity in Canadian Cities & Communities
:: Theme Report #4 (2008) - Trends & Issues in Affordable Housing & Homelessness
:: Theme Report #3 (2005) - Growth, the Economy and the Urban Environment
:: Theme Report #2 (2005) - Dynamic Societies and Social Change
:: Theme Report #1 (2004) - Incomes, Shelter and Necessities

What is the Quality of Life Reporting System (QOLRS)?
Led by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Quality of Life Reporting System (QOLRS) measures, monitors and reports on social, economic and environmental trends in Canada´s largest cities and communities. The QOLRS is a member-based initiative. Starting with 16 municipalities in 1996, the QOLRS has grown to 24 communities in seven provinces.

Source:
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
FCM has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. With more than 1,775 members, FCM represents the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 18 provincial and territorial municipal associations.

Related link:

Report: Canadian cities struggle with social services
By Bryn Weese
March 24, 2010
OTTAWA — Canadian cities are struggling to fill the gaps in the country's "fraying social safety net," according to a new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This is the sixth quality-of-life report commissioned by the federation focussed on Canada's 24 largest urban centres. It found that wait times for public housing have increased, the need for employment insurance and welfare has skyrocketed, subsidized daycare spots are wanting, and the number of working poor and low-income families has been increasing — even before the recent recession — in almost all the cities studied.
(...)
According to the report, Mending Canada’s Frayed Social Safety Net: The role of municipal governments, 54% of Canadians now live in the country's 24 urban areas where there are 2.5 million working poor and 1.2 million low-income families.
Source:
Toronto Sun

- Go to the Municipal Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/municipal.htm

Government Launches Coast to Coast
Consultations on Canada’s Retirement Income System
News Release
March 24, 2010
The federal government today announced the launch of online consultations and a series of cross-country roundtable discussions, speaking engagements and town hall meetings to gather input from Canadians on ensuring the ongoing strength of Canada’s retirement income system. The consultations will inform discussions at the next meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance in May, where the retirement income system will be a key agenda item.
(...)
Public town hall meetings will be held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City, and Richmond, British Columbia. Roundtable discussions with invited key stakeholders, experts and representatives from provincial and territorial governments will take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and London, Ontario.

Click the above link for more background information on this consultation along with email and street mailing addresses where you can send your input.

The closing date for contributions is April 30, 2010, and these consultations are open to anyone.

Individuals interested in participating in the online consultations are invited
to do so through the following link to the Department of Finance website:
www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/retirement-eng.asp

Related document:

Ensuring the Ongoing Strength
of Canada’s Retirement Income System*
- provides background information on Canada's retirement income system;
- provides an overview of research on retirement income adequacy;
- describes a variety of proposals in the public domain relating to Canada's retirement income system; and
- solicits views of Canadians on Canada's retirement income system and how to ensure its ongoing strength.

* NOTE: Recommended reading - includes over a dozen links to related and contextual information in areas such as:
- Canada's Government Supported Retirement Income System
- Research on Retirement Income Adequacy
- Considerations for Evaluating Retirement Income System Issues
- Range of Proposals in the Public Domain
- Summary of Questions

Source:
Department of Finance Canada

Related links:

Retirement Lost (seven-part series - October 16-24, 2009)
Canada's retirement dreams are under siege, weakened by underfunding and hobbled by the global recession.
It's a national crisis with no easy answers.
Source:
The Globe and Mail

- Go to the Seniors (Social Research) Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/seniors.htm

Budget 2010: Manitoba Moves Forward
Five-year Economic Plan to Grow the Economy, Invest in Key Services: Wowchuk
News Release
March 23, 2010
Budget 2010 introduces a five-year economic plan that will tackle the budget shortfall while at the same time continue to invest in front-line services in health care, education and training, policing and supports for families, Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk said today.

Budget 2010 Highlights

Budget 2010:
Manitoba Moves Forward
March 23, 2010
Main budget page, includes links to:
* Speech (PDF - 932K, 21 pages)
* Manitoba’s Five-Year Economic Plan (PDF - 526K, 5 pages)
* Budget and Budget Papers
* Estimates of Expenditure and Revenue (PDF - 670K, 182 pages)
* Tax Savings Estimator
* News Releases

Winnipeg Free Press Special:
Manitoba Budget 2010
- includes links to over a dozen articles analyzing the 2010 budget

- Go to the 2010 Canadian Government Budgets Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/budgets_2010.htm
- Go to the Manitoba Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/mbkmrk.htm

A test of Ontario's appetite to fight for poverty reduction
By Mike Creek (25 in 5 Network for Poverty reduction),
Adrianna Tetley (Association of Ontario Health Centres),
ODSP Action Coalition
March 20, 2010
Ontario is about to face one of the biggest tests of its commitment to poverty reduction. Will it comply with an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal ruling that says it must end discrimination in its special diet allowance program, or will it target the program for cuts as part of its deficit reduction plan? At stake is not only Ontario's "25-in-5" poverty reduction target but also the very lives of the many Ontarians who have nowhere else to turn for support. The special diet program is a long-standing part of Ontario's social assistance system. It provides additional allowances for people with higher food costs due to prescribed medical dietary treatment.(...) In 2008, Ontario committed to a five-year poverty reduction strategy. All parties in the Legislature agreed to take public action to reduce poverty by 25 per cent by the year 2013 – the 25 in 5 target. We celebrated the turning of the corner on the poverty debate in Ontario. We would be the first to applaud the government's decision to maintain the special diet program and, in keeping with the tribunal's ruling, enhance allowances accordingly. Eliminating the program, however, could erase all the goodwill the government has built on poverty reduction.
Source:
Toronto Star

* 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
* Association of Ontario Health Centres
* ODSP Action Coalition

Related link:

Letter from the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO)
and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) to the
Minister of Community and Social Services
March 18, 2010
"...the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario and Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario strongly urge you to withdraw the directive and respect the professional opinion of authorized health professionals, including nurse practitioners, in those cases where, in their clinical judgment, a social assistance recipient’s condition entitles them to the Special Diet Allowance.
Source:
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario

- Go to the Ontario Municipal and Non-Governmental Sites (A-C) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/onbkmrk2.htm
- Go to the Ontario Municipal and Non-Governmental Sites (D-W) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/onbkmrk3.htm

This is not social policy.
(Wanna bet??)

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World Water Day - March 22
Water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water.

The Story of Bottled Water
The Story of Bottled Water is an eight-minute animated video that throws a wrench in the bottled water industry’s spin machine. (...) Bottled water companies have worked hard to undermine confidence in public water systems. But the tide is turning, as a growing number of Canadian municipalities, campuses, school boards and other public institutions are rejecting bottled water in favour of the tap. Watch the video, share it with your friends, and take a pledge to make your home, workplace and community bottled-water free.

Government of Canada Celebrates World Water Day
with an Investment in Water Quality Research
March 22, 2010
Source:
Environment Canada

- Go to the General Federal Government Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/fed2.htm

Social Policy Cafe
Havi Echenberg's blog is rich with resources and insights - hardly surprising, given the breadth and depth of her experience in Canadian social research and social policy. Every week in her blog, Havi does a review (see "Triage" below) of selected social research resources such as studies and reports, and a section called Hidden gems that promises some, well, hidden gems. Below, you'll find links to the latest Social Policy Cafe Triage and the first Hidden Gem:

Triage: Three Canadian reports worth reading
Reviews of the following:
* How Canada Performs: A Report Card on Canada (by the Conference Board of Canada)
--- ranking Canada’s socio-economic performance against that of peer countries
* Mending Canada’s frayed social safety net: The role of municipal governments
--- from the Quality of Life surveys conducted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
* The Preston Manning Centre Barometer
--- an "annual look at Canadians’ attitudes towards values and policies generally ascribed to Conservatives”

Hidden gems: Community information database
The Community Information Database (CID), developed by the Rural Secretariat with the cooperation of provincial and territorial governments, is intended to be "a free internet-based resource developed to provide communities, researchers, and governments with access to consistent and reliable socio-economic and demographic data and information for all communities across Canada." And it delivers. Despite a clunky interface, and a steep learning curve that can’t be bypassed, in my experience, the CID provides a rich source of information about all communities, including urban ones, with data from the 1996, 2001, and 2006 Census. In fact, more than 500 pieces of data can be retrieved for all of Canada, by province, region, Census Metropolitan area, Census subdivision, or regional health district.

- Go to the Non-Governmental Organizations Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ngobkmrk.htm

Canadian Policy Research Networks - UPDATE
The link to the CPRN home page mysteriously died last Sunday (March 21/09) after I sent out the weekly newsletter. I'm pleased to report that the CPRN website content is alive and well. Click the link above to access the CPRN's collection of 700+ reports.

RIP, CPRN...

Selected content from
The Daily [Statistics Canada]:

March 26, 2010
Participation in private retirement savings plans, 2008
Just over 8.9 million employed Canadian tax filers participated in a private retirement savings plan in 2008, about 50% of all tax filers. This proportion was down from 54% in 1997. There was a decrease in the share of employed tax filers who contributed to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) during the decade. In 1997, 41% of employed tax filers participated in an RRSP; by 2008, this proportion had declined to 34%.

The report:

Participation in private retirement savings plans, 1997 - 2008
March 2010
HTML version - table of contents (links are in the left-hand margin) + Abstract, Intro and Highlights
PDF version (285K, 35 pages)

Related subjects:
* Income, pensions, spending and wealth
* Pension plans and funds and other retirement income programs
* Seniors
* Income, pensions and wealth

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March 25, 2010
Maintenance enforcement by neighbourhood income
in seven reporting census metropolitan areas
By Paul Robinson
[Full article in HTML]
[Full article in PDF (694K, 28 pages)]
[Highlights]
Using the most recent annual data from the Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs, this article looks at families who are receiving child support and are enrolled in a maintenance enforcement program. The characteristics of families living in lower and higher income neighbourhoods in the reporting census metropolitan areas are compared.

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March 25, 2010
Canada's population estimates, fourth quarter 2009
Canada's population was estimated at 33,930,800 as of January 1, 2010, an increase of 57,500 or 0.17% from the level at October 1, 2009. Population growth remains fastest in Western Canada, with all provinces in the region recording percentage increases above the national level.
- incl. links to two tables:
* Components and factors of demographic growth
* Quarterly demographic estimates

Related link:

Quarterly Demographic Estimates, October to December 2009

Related subjects:
* Ethnic diversity and immigration
* Immigrants and non-permanent residents
* Population and demography

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March 24, 2010
Employment Insurance, January 2010
In January, 698,800 people received regular Employment Insurance benefits, down 47,700 from December, the fourth consecutive monthly decline. The number of beneficiaries fell in every province, with the most pronounced declines in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec.
- incl. three tables:
* Employment Insurance: Statistics by province and territory
* Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by age group, sex, province and territory
* Beneficiaries receiving regular benefits by census metropolitan areas

Related link:

Employment Insurance Statistics Maps
- set of maps presenting the number of regular Employment Insurance beneficiaries. These maps complete the analysis published simultaneously in The Daily. The maps show the percentage change in number of people receiving regular Employment Insurance benefits in the last 12 months, by Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Census Agglomerations (CAs).

Related subjects:
* Labour
* Employment insurance, social assistance and other transfers
* Non-wage benefits

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March 23, 2010
Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2007 to 2009
New data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey show that 41% of Canadian adults had a high total cholesterol level. In addition, 4% of Canadians aged 6 to 79, or just over 1.1 million people, were considered vitamin D-deficient.

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March 23, 2010
Leading indicators, February 2010
The composite index rose 0.8 % in February after a 0.7% advance in January. In February, 9 of the 10 components rose, up from 8 in January. Household demand again led the increase, while manufacturing continued to recover.
- incl. table of leading indicators

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The Daily Archives
- select a month and click on a date for that day's Daily

Source:
The Daily
[Statistics Canada]

- Go to the Federal Government Department Links (Fisheries and Oceans to Veterans Affairs) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/fedbkmrk2.htm

What's new from the
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU):

March 28, 2010

What's new online
This section archives documents that have been featured on the CRRU homepage. Items are in chronological order by posting date from the most recent to the least recent. Follow the title link for details.

Ontario budget
various
Posting date: 25 Mar 10

Newfoundland and Labrador Speech from the Throne
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

Occupational standards for early childhood educators
Child Care Human Resources Sector Council
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

Towards a framework for assessing family policies in the EU
Lohmann, Henning; H. Peter, Frauke; Rostgaard, Tine & Spiess, C. Katharina
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

More What's New Online

Child care in the news

This section features interesting and noteworthy news about ECEC and related issues in Canada and internationally. Items are listed in chronological order by publication date from the most recent to the least recent. Follow the title link for excerpts.

Staying home with the kids [CA]
National Post
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

Daycare gets budget bailout [CA-ON]
Benzie, Robert
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

Daycare system near collapse, advocates say [CA-ON]
Monsebraaten, Laurie
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

Mandated provincial all-day childcare could impact YMCA [CA-ON]
Ross, Sara
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

Newfoundland Throne Speech focuses on child care, human rights [CA-NL]
Bailey, Sue
Posting date: 24 Mar 10

more CC IN THE NEWS »

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Subscribe to the CRRU email announcements list
Sign up to receive email notices of updates and new postings on the CRRU website which will inform you of policy developments in early childhood care and education, new research and resources for policy, newly released CRRU publications, and upcoming events of interest to the child care and broader community.

Links to child care
sitesin 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

Source:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU)
The Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) is a policy and research oriented facility that focuses on early childhood education and child care (ECEC) and family policy in Canada and internationally.

- 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 several times a week
- scan of U.S. web-based news items dealing with topics such as poverty, welfare reform, child welfare, education, health, hunger, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.

Latest issues of Poverty Dispatch:

March 26:
General Assistance Medical Care - Minnesota
Extension of Jobless Benefits
Health Reform and State Medicaid Programs
Food Stamp Application Process - Maryland

March 25:
Poverty Rate - Washington, DC
Costs of Housing the Homeless
Libraries and Internet Usage
Race and School Suspensions

March 24:
Cuts to Health Care Programs - Arizona
National Assessment of Educational Progress
Poverty Alleviation - UK
Prison Population - California

March 23:
Health Care Reform and State Medicaid Programs
Vaccinations in Poor Countries
Medical-Legal Partnerships

March 22:
Health Care Reform in the US
Homelessness and Housing - New York City

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Past Poverty Dispatches
- links to dispatches back to June 2006

Search Poverty Dispatches

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To subscribe to this email list, send an email to:
povdispatch-request@ssc.wisc.edu?subject=subscribe

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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
- Go to the Poverty Measures - International Resources page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/poverty2.htm

From The White House:

March 22, 2010
This is What Change Looks Like
After a historic vote in the House to send health reform to the President, he speaks to all Americans on the change they will finally see as they are given back control over their own health care.

March 22, 2010
Reform Begins
White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer lays out some of the immediate benefits of health reform.

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Historic U.S. health-care bill passes
March 22, 2010
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a historic health-care bill late Sunday that will make coverage possible for more than 30 million uninsured Americans and end discrimination by insurance companies against people with existing medical conditions. Legislators voted 219 to 212 in favour of the landmark legislation that has been debated on Capitol Hill for a year.
NOTE: see 1000+ story comments!
Source:
CBC

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Health Care 2010
Tracking the national debate on health care system overhaul
Source:
The Washington Post

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From Democracy NOW!:

Michael Moore: Healthcare Bill “A Victory for Capitalism” (video)
March 23, 2010
“The healthcare bill that was passed ultimately will be seen as a victory for capitalism,” Moore says. “It protected the capitalist model of providing healthcare for people—in other words, we are not to help unless there is money to be made from it."

In Historic Vote, House Approves Landmark Healthcare Reform Bill (video)
March 22, 2010
In a historic vote, the House has approved an overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system that expands coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans while forcing millions to purchase private health insurance. We play remarks by President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader John Boehner.

Source:
Democracy NOW!
Democracy Now! is a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. (...) Democracy Now!’s War and Peace Report provides our audience with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S.corporate-sponsored media, including independent and international journalists, ordinary people from around the world who are directly affected by U.S. foreign policy, grassroots leaders and peace activists, artists, academics and independent analysts.

- Go to the Links to American Government Social Research Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us.htm

Australian Policy Online (APO)
APO is a news service and library specialising in Australian public policy reports and articles from academic research centres, think tanks, government and non-government organisations. The site features opinion and commentary pieces, video, audio and web resources focussed on the policy issues facing Australia.
[ About APO ]
NOTE : includes links to the latest APO research; the five most popular downloads of the week
appear in a dark box in the top right-hand corner of each page, and the downloads vary depending on the topic you select.

Top five this week:
1. National cultural policy: discussion framework
2. Will Facebook profiles replace govt web sites?
3. The Rudd reforms: a poisoned chalice in the long run
4. Sydney University three decades later
5. The effects of education and health on wages and productivity

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New Research : Social Policy | Poverty
- topics include:
* Community * Cultural diversity * Families & households * Gender & sexuality * Immigration & refugees * Population * Poverty * Religion & faith * Social problems * Welfare * Youth

Top five this week:
1. National cultural policy: discussion framework
2. Australian Social Trends, Mar 2010
3. Recognising, preventing and responding to abuse of older people living in the community: A resource for community care workers
4. Gender brief
5. Australian crime: facts and figures 2009

- 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)

Latest issues of CRINMAIL (children's rights newsletter):

25 March 2010 - CRINMAIL 1224
* HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: Council to develop UN communications procedure for violations of children's rights [news]
* EL SALVADOR: Violence against women and girls remains a significant challenge [news]
* EGYPT: Draft law threatens to strangle civil society [statement]
* YEMEN: Women rally in support of child bride law [news]
* TRAFFICKING: South Africa to fast-track human trafficking law [news]
* BELGIUM: 2010 Interdisciplinary Course on Children's Rights [course]
* EMPLOYMENT: UNICEF [job posting]
**NEWS IN BRIEF**

23 March 2010 - CRINMAIL 1159
* DENMARK: Child rights group wants review of church secrecy laws [news]
* UNITED KINGDOM: Safe at Last? Children on the front line of UK Border control [publication]
* HAITI: Earthquake opens window on dismal prisons [news]
* NORTHEAST INDIA: 70,000 child workers in coal mines [news]
* SOUTHERN AFRICA: Fifth meeting of network to end corporal and humiliating punishment of children [news]
* NETHERLANDS: International Human Rights Academy [course]
* EMPLOYMENT: Save the Children Denmark [job posting]
**CRIN NOTICEBOARD**
**NEWS IN BRIEF**

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Links to Issues of CRINMAIL
- links to 200+ weekly issues, many of which are special editions focusing on special themes, such as the 45th Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the launch of the EURONET Website.

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

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

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.

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