Articles written by Angela Browne
Showing 62 Articles
|
Political Hypocrisy in Canada
Ontario's Progressive Conservatives have distanced themselves from their federal Conservatives cousins, as federal government seeks to enable Ontario to pass HST.
|
|
Ontario Taxpayers Rise to Protest Proposed HST
A proposed harmonized sales tax raises the ire of Ontario voters to fever pitch as its Liberal government tries to sell it a positive move for its ailing economy.
|
|
Small Claims Courts the Busiest in Ontario
In Ontario, small claims courts do not operate like People's Court or Judge Judy. They are regular courts, but are user friendly enough to solve basic legal problems.
|
|
GO Transit Arrives at Niagara Region
When GO Transit was first announced for Niagara, it arrived with much fanfare and media support; however, the news about this new service is not all good.
|
|
Greyhound Canada Plans to Cut Services
On September 6, 2009, Greyhound Canada went public, demanding $15 - $20 million in federal funding to maintain service in Western Canada and Northern Ontario.
|
|
Ontario By-Election a Referendum on Taxes
With growing debate on the provincial government's proposed blended sales tax set for next July, by-election candidates in St. Paul's Riding use HST to bolster campaigns.
|
|
Canada Headed for Another Federal Election
After earlier threats by the Opposition to dissolve Parliament only to be followed by an agreement by the two main parties to work together, an election is now imminent.
|
|
Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal
Recent publicity and attacks on Canada's human rights tribunals have led to some critics wondering about the need for them or whether they can be reformed.
|
|
Taxation and Harmonization in Ontario
In Ontario's 2009 budget, the Finance Minister surprised residents with his government's intent to pass a blended sales tax, allegedly to help Ontario's ailing economy.
|
|
Is the Recession Over in Canada?
Economists are beginning to shine a light at the end of the dark economic tunnel in Canada; however, we have yet to see significant movement in job recovery.
|
|
Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness in Canada
Unemployment and under-employment is high among persons with mental health problems in Canada, including those that are able and want to work. Reducing stigma is the key.
|
|
Reforming Disability Benefits in Ontario
In 1998, when both Ontario Works and ODSP programs were created, people with disabilities were promised they would be taken off welfare; so far it is not the case.
|
|
Toronto City Workers Walk Off the Job
Toronto city workers have been off the job for almost one week. After five months of bargaining for a new contract, neither the city or the unions want to give in.
|
|
Social Assistance Review Promised for Ontario
As part of the provincial poverty-reduction strategy, the Ontario government is promising a review of both its Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support programs.
|
|
Ontario Small Claims Courts to Raise Its Monetary Limits to $25,000
On January 1, 2010, Ontario's small claims courts will be allowed to handle lawsuits of up to $25,000, which brings Ontario in line with many other provinces.
|
|
Prime Minister Harper Stalls Summer Election
In response to a threatened confidence vote on Canada's Employment Insurance scheme, Prime Minister Harper is set to appoint a panel to propose amendments.
|
|
Tim Hudak Wins Ontario PC Leadership Vote
A tight race between four candidates for the provincial leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party is over, as Tim Hudak takes the helm.
|
|
Parents Demand Accountability in Children's Aid
In May 2009, Children's Aid Workers voted to strike to improve pay and working conditions. However, they are asking taxpayers to cover legal fees when parents sue them.
|
|
Should Child Protection Agencies be More Accountable
Child protection agencies serve an important and crucial function in protecting society's most precious resource. However, critics say many agencies overstep their bounds
|
|
Leadership Race for Ontario's Conservative Party
As the race heats up for Ontario's Progressive Conservative leadership, party members are warned that radical visions may win the leadership but not win government.
|
|
Accessing Disability Benefits in Ontario
Many people receiving welfare in Ontario should be getting higher paying disability benefits, but its program design continues to create barriers to accessing benefits.
|
|
Ontario Disability Benefits Hurt Dignity of Poor
At its annual conference in Toronto, over 120 participants advocate a re-working of Ontario's disability income support scheme to allow people to live in dignity.
|
|
Ontario's Proposed Employment Standards Ready
Proposed employment accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act are now ready for public input and comment.
|
|
Niagara Region Spins its Wheels on Transit
Politicians have been concerned about the loss of young people who leave Niagara Region. While part of the reason is lack of jobs, many leave due to transportation costs.
|
|
Public Transit is an Essential Service
Whenever transit workers in large cities go on strike, a public debate emerges about whether public transit should be deemed an essential service in any community.
|
|
Legislating Poverty Reduction in Ontario
As part of Ontario's poverty-reduction program, Bill 152, An Act Respecting a Long-Term Strategy to Reduce Poverty in Ontario, was introduced. Will it work?
|
|
Bashing the Poor in Ontario
While most of us would never consider expressing outrage against racial and ethnic groups in public discourse, many politicians have no trouble attacking the poor.
|
|
Parliamentary Prorogue and Ottawa Transit Strike
During the excitement over thwarting the possibility of an opposition coalition government in Canada, in the background a transit strike brewed in Ottawa.
|
|
Is Federal Budget Boom or Bust for Canadians?
After a lengthy period of Parliamentary prorogue, the Canadian government came alive at the end of January to promise goodies to Canadians, if it can remain in power.
|
|
Human Rights Reform in Ontario
As of June 30, 2008, the Human Rights Code Amendment Act, or previously called Bill 107, took effect. Time will tell if the new direct access model will work.
|
|
Human Rights and Housing in Ontario
In Ontario, renters are protected by two key pieces of legislation. This is a brief analysis on how human rights legislation affects one's right to rental housing.
|
|
Federal Budget Stops Parliamentary Stalemate
After a near destabilization of Parliament last December, Canada's governing Conservatives finally figured out we are in a recession. But did this new discovery help?
|
|
Ontario's Poverty Reduction Plan Unveiled
The Ontario Government's new poverty-reduction plan has attracted both praise and criticism as it aims to reduce poverty in children by 25% over the next five years.
|
|
Showdown in Canada's Parliament Continues
After a tense showdown in Parliament in early December, the dynamics of the Opposition shifted with the appointment of a new Liberal Leader.
|
|
Will Bailing Out the Automakers Help Canadians?
While Canadians are concerned about huge job losses in the auto sector, many are concerned that bailing out these companies sets a bad precedent.
|
|
Automakers Go To Washington for Bailout
During periods of economic growth, large corporations including automakers asked for an received major tax cuts across the board. Now they want to be bailed out.
|
|
Non-Confidence Vote Averted in Canada
Because a minority parliament is not a common occurence in Canada, Canadians reacted with fear when opposition coalition threatened to end Conservative reign.
|
|
New Coalition Threatens Conservative Minority
A Coalition of the Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois parties in Canada force Harper to back down on controversial Economic Statement.
|
|
Can Niagara's Cities and Towns Amalgamate?
Tired of old style politics, infighting and parochialism, a growing number of Niagara residents are joining a movement to create "One Niagara", a city in its own right.
|
|
Hospital Proposal Divides Ontario Region
After an early summer public consultation on its hospital improvement plan Niagara Health System officials face wrath from angry citizens fearful of losing local service.
|
|
Conservative Bid for Majority Government Fails
Despite the Conservatives targeted campaign against Stephane Dion's Liberals for this past federal election, Stephen Harper's Conservatives failed to obtain a majority.
|
|
Ontario a Leader in the Regulation of Paralegals
Despite its continued controversy, Ontario's Access to Justice Act has opened the door to licensing non-lawyers to practice certain areas of law.
|
|
Federal Election Called: Voters Go Online
Another federal election has been called. Vote weary Canadians are considering the meaning of today's elections and new technologies are playing a more important role.
|
|
Are Canadians Headed to the Polls Soon?
Canadians were held in suspense for 2 1/2 years with repeated threats of a federal election. Contrary to his own promise, Prime Minister Harper wants to call one now.
|
|
Ontario's Energy Prices Rise to Curb Use
Over-consumption of electricity led to an historic blackout, but is the Ontario Government wise on pushing ahead with forcing higher electricity prices?
|
|
Is Dion's Proposed Carbon Tax Revenue Neutral?
Everybody wants to help the environment. Politicians that promise to protect the environment will make promises that look good, but will they really work?
|
|
Delivering Hope to People with Disabilities
A key component of the Ontario Disability Support Program can provide significant hope for many people, but a thorough review must be done to avoid missed opportunities.
|
|
Opening Doors to Persons with Disabilities
One thing most people with disabilities want to do is to find and maintain a good job. Ontario's government is trying to do just that with some bumps in the road.
|
|
Ontario's Labour Market is Failing its Workers
Is telling the poor to get a job enough to bring them out of poverty? Increasingly, experts are warning us this is not the case. A more comprehensive vision is required.
|
|
Growing Gap Between Wealthy and Poor in Canada
Some economists are sounding the alarm on the growing disparity in wealth in Canada, as well as declining labour standards and social safety nets.
|
|
Workplace Bullies the Target of New Laws
Targets of workplace bullies are gaining new tools to fight back. With public awareness, comes legislative change and hopefully soon, changing attitudes.
|
|
Bullies a Hazard in Today's Workplace's
The same kids we used to fear in trepidation in the schoolyard have now grown up and joined today's workplaces. Their presence has become a serious occupational hazard.
|
|
Special Diet Fight Hits the Courts
The right to eat well and stay healthy should not be a fight for thousands of Ontarians with medical conditions that live in poverty. But, that fight has just begun.
|
|
Ontario Job Losses Lead to Crisis
Mass job losses are leading to significant economic shifts in Ontario, putting more families into low paid unstable work or welfare, which is leading to a major crisis!
|
|
Transportation as a Poverty Issue
Urban sprawl and budget cuts to public transportation alternatives do more than harm the environment, says researcher. It can make income inequities far worse.
|
|
BC Welfare a Tangled Safety Net
Many think people on welfare should just get a job, and cutting welfare rates will encourage more people to work instead of live "on the dole". Not so, say researchers.
|
|
Missing the Mark in Child Poverty
In Ontario's otherwise positive measures to reduce child poverty, its Ontario Child Benefit will miss the mark for getting children of parents on welfare out of poverty.
|
|
Ontario Poverty Strategy Too Late
While the Ontario Government's child poverty-reduction strategy is a welcome initiative, community groups are concerned that the poorest of the poor will be left behind.
|
|
Ontario Government Targets Poverty
In keeping with its re-election promise, the Ontario Government is consulting with the public on how to define and measure poverty, as well as how to reduce it.
|
|
Doing Business Under the AODA
Employers, municipalities and businesses can plan now to prepare for the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and reap the benefits earlier.
|
|
Why Does Ontario Need the AODA?
The AODA will force stakeholders to remove barriers by 2025. This proactive legislation will reduce the need to file complaints to enforce rights for Ontario's disabled.
|
|
Ontario to be Barrier Free by 2025
This is an article describing a unique vision and legislative process undertaken by the Ontario (Canada) government to improve accessibility to persons with disabilities.
|
