By Arjumand Siddiqi and Odmaa Sod-Erdene health concerns, health issues, higher minimum wage, income support, inflation, low income, policy measures, poverty, precarious job conditions, social assistance
Poverty is linked to poor health outcomes Public health researchers have long known that poverty and poor health are linked, but new evidence suggests that social assistance — the government system designed to provide those in poverty with income support — is not succeeding at protecting health. Using data from national government surveys, we studied […]
Saskatchewan budget misses opportunity on rental housing assistance
By Nick Falvo affordable housing, disabled people, homeless, housing, housing affordability, low income, rental costs, Rental Housing Supplement, rental rates, Saskatchewan, social assistance, vulnerable people
In the recent Saskatchewan budget, the Moe government made the surprise announcement that it would slowly phase out a rental housing assistance program known as the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement. Given current rental housing market realities, the government ought to have done the complete opposite and expanded the program. That’s because high vacancy rates create […]
By Sherri Torjman basic income guarantee, Canada, disabilities, eligibility criteria, employment challenges, income security, social assistance, welfare, welfare programs, welfare recipients
A federal disability benefit could be modelled on the GIS for seniors A version of this commentary appeared in the Toronto Star, the Winnipeg Free Press and the Huffington Post The talk of walls between nations garners significant attention. There is virtually no discussion, by contrast, of the walls that exist within nations. In Canada, […]
By Gary Bloch Canadian healthcare system, Canadian poverty, Child poverty, financial benefits, health, income gap, poverty tool, social assistance
As a family doctor who works largely with people living on low incomes, poverty is at the root of many of the illnesses I treat.
By Gary Bloch and John Silver Canadian healthcare system, Canadian poverty, Child poverty, education, financial benefits, GAI, Guaranteed Annual Income, health, income gap, poverty tool, social assistance
Most Canadians would like to see an end to poverty. What if we told you that one organization, using the existing social benefits system, found a way to get $21 million into the pockets of 9,000 low income individuals in Winnipeg?
By Laura Anderson and Danielle Martin basic income guarantee, Canada, graduation rates, poverty, poverty reduction, social assistance
The Basic Income Guarantee is having a moment.
Hot on the heels of Quebec’s plans to work towards a basic income guarantee and a Globe and Mail Editorial Board endorsement came an announcement last Thursday of a pilot as part of Ontario’s provincial budget.
How doctors can tackle the poverty of their patients without leaving the doctor’s office
By Gary Bloch and Sharon Macdonald Canadian healthcare system, Canadian poverty, Child poverty, education, financial benefits, GAI, Guaranteed Annual Income, health, income gap, poverty tool, social assistance
Can a question asked in a doctor’s office contribute to ending poverty for patients and their families? This is what we asked ourselves 10 years ago, as we set out to convince health providers to tackle poverty.
By Noralou Roos and Evelyn Forget Canadian healthcare system, education, financial benefits, GAI, Guaranteed Annual Income, health, income gap, social assistance
Could the Guaranteed Annual Income — once considered radical notion — now be an idea whose time has come?
How to make the social determinants of health matter
By Ryan Meili affordable housing, Canada’s healthcare system, domestic violence, Health care costs, health service funding, healthy communities, Homelessness in Canada, senior housing, social assistance, Social inequality, social programs
Recently, I was fortunate to attend the Global Symposium on the Role of Physicians and National Medical Associations in Addressing Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health held in London, England. The meeting was organized by the Canadian, British and World Medical Associations and had, among other goals, an agenda to assist public health pioneer Sir Michael Marmot in making such issues central to his upcoming role as president of the World Medical Association.
By Affordable care cost act, chronic care, community care, homecare, long-term care, medical care, National homecare system, Podcasts, senior care costs, seniors, seniors assistance, seniors living conditions, social assistance, virtual communication
Will the cost of senior care in Canada one day break the bank? Probably not, contrary to common perceptions.