September 2011
4 posts
What is really at the root of the opposition to...
Vibrant Communities Calgary is in favour of secondary suites across Calgary and we have been very vocal in our support. The result of this vocal endorsement of an important policy decision has prompted many people to get in touch with VCC about secondary suites in their neighbourhoods. The majority of citizens who have contacted VCC have been in support of suites; this is no surprise as every...
PC Leadership Candidates Talk Poverty Reduction
*updated post from September 8 The leadership race began with the first ballot September 17 (narrowing the field to the top 3) and continues with the second ballot on October 1. We know that many of you plan to vote on October 1 and that you care about reducing poverty in the province. We are re-posting responses about a poverty reduction strategy from the 3 top candidates in the race to help...
Back to School Headaches
By: Cesar Agudelo When I was in school one of my biggest worries was fitting in and that involved asking my parents for the latest fashion items and the coolest backpack. At the time, it seemed like the biggest disappointment to hear my parents say “no, we can’t afford that, don’t worry about the other kids, all you have to worry about is doing well in school.” Year after year all my basic school...
PC Leadership Candidates Talk Poverty Reduction
In Calgary on Wednesday night at the Progressive Conservative leadership forum, candidates vying for the job of Alberta’s next premier, at least until the next provincial election, were asked the following: “Many of you have failed to commit to implementing a Provincial Poverty Reduction Strategy; what do you say to the 400,000 Albertans currently living in poverty who need your help?” The...
August 2011
3 posts
Letter to Leadership hopefuls 23/08/11
Letter to the Editor
August 23, 2011
We have been following the leadership races of the Progressive Conservatives and the Alberta Liberals very closely and we notice that there has been little discussion about poverty in our province. Based on Statistics Canada data, we know that there are nearly 400,000 Albertans living in poverty. We should be clear that poverty measures reflect bare minimum...
1 tag
Sad Day
Today is a sad day for all Canadians. The death of Jack Layton hit us all hard: we all work each day to make Canada better; we all work to ensure that there is positive change in our great country and that the change created serves all Canadians. This sadness is not about politics, it is not about ideology, and it is not about partisanship. Whenever someone, who is willing to stand up with...
Get involved in the Alberta Provincial Leadership...
The Progressive Conservative Party and the Alberta Liberal Party are currently holding leadership races and you can be involved in selecting the leaders of these provincial parties. You can be a member of multiple provincial parties, which means you can participate in selecting the leader for both parties. Below is some information on how to have your say, please see the party websites for...
July 2011
2 posts
Artificial Austerity Report: AB Government Fails...
Alberta’s coffers – and its social programs – are suffering because our government has failed to collect its share of oilsands revenue, says political scientist Regan Boychuk.
Boychuk has presented his work on “Artificial Austerity: The Oilpatch and Poverty in Alberta” several times this year, most recently on June 8th for Women Together Ending Poverty (WTEP). If you haven’t seen it or gone...
Letter to Calgary SPC on LPT Committee & Council...
Dear LPT Committee and Council Members, Thank you for your continued discussion on a transit fare strategy for the city that is fair to all Calgarians. The City of Calgary led the way in creating the low-income transit pass and, as we all know, this initiative has meant access to transit for thousands of Calgarians who could not otherwise afford to use public transportation. We write to you...
June 2011
5 posts
Mark Chamberlain on Poverty: Address it Now or Pay...
“We have to decide to either address the emergency that is poverty or we can let it fester and pay for it later” Yesterday at the Telus Convention Centre, hosted by Calgary Economic Development and Vibrant Communities Calgary, Mark Chamberlain stated that poverty is a public health crisis out-competing SARS and much more detrimental to our economic prosperity. Mark Chamberlain...
A message from The Right Hon. Joe Clark: Please...
Like you, I too care deeply about the issue of poverty in Canada. Like you, I find it completely unacceptable that anyone should live in our country without basic needs being met, that some do not have fair access to opportunity and security in the fullest meaning of that word. Like you, I am convinced solutions to poverty are before us, that what is most lacking is sufficient political will,...
Two-Tier Minimum Wage
By: Bob Barnetson
(Reposted from http://albertalabour.blogspot.com/)
As expected, the province announced it would increase the minimum wage yesterday. The new minimum (as of September 1) will be $9.40 an hour, unless you serve liquor (then it will $9.05).
The minimum wage will then increase each year based on an indexing formula. Although the liquor-serving wage will not move until the...
Hennessy's Index: A number is never just a number
Hennessy’s Index: A number is never just a number (Reposted from CCPA: Original Post)
June 2011: Minimum vs Living Wage
by Trish Hennessy
June 1, 2011
Hennessy’s Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA’s Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version. For other months, visit:...
Media Release: Minimum Wage Increase Does Little...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE DOES LITTLE TO HELP WORKING POOR CALGARY: JUNE 1, 2011 – Minister Lukaszuk announced an increase of 60 cents to Alberta’s minimum wage today. “While we appreciate Minister Lukaszuk’s recognition that Alberta’s Minimum Wage has been too low, and thank him for the increase, we need to ask ourselves how many of the 300,000 working poor Albertans will be...
May 2011
2 posts
Aldermen Delay Decision on Secondary Suites......
Where and when does accountability for decision-making set in at City Council? What exactly is the role of a City of Calgary Alderman? Turns out we aren’t the first ones to wonder what exactly is in the job description, according to a blog on calgarypolitics.com, there isn’t one. We’ve been wondering about the role of Aldermen after watching the Land Use, Planning, and Transportation Committee in...
Data Geeks Unite!
I confess to being a data geek. I’m okay with it. I accept it. I am calling on all my fellow data geeks to unite around our love of good data. Regardless of how any of us use the data, how we interpret it, or what actions we think should be taken as a result of data, we can all agree that we need reliable, valid data to form the basis of our arguments, which we then revel in debating over with...
April 2011
10 posts
Conservative Party Platform - poverty reduction
This analysis completes the review we did of the party platforms with a specific view of how they stack up on poverty reduction initiatives. This final analysis takes a look at the Conservative Party of Canada platform. While the document is nearly 70 pages long the word “poverty” is not mentioned, so we will focus on the initiatives in the platform that are directly related to Canadians living...
New Democrat Party Platform - Poverty Reduction...
Three more days til we go to the polls, and VCC is wrapping up its review of the poverty platforms. So far, the Liberals and the Greens have provided solid approaches to reducing poverty in Canada; what about the NDP? Several of their objectives overlap with the Greens and Liberals– such as their commitment to an Affordable Housing Initiative, increased funding for social housing, rebates on an...
Letter to the Editor re: “Alberta wants to...
In response to April 28, 2011 Calgary Herald Editorial
Minister of Employment Thomas Lukaszuk recently discussed his idea to link Alberta’s minimum wage to those of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. While this idea marks a recognition of the need for inter-provincial economic coordination, it is also important to recognize that a minimum wage, which is lowest in Alberta, does not meet even...
Green Platform: Addressing Poverty Reduction
In less than two weeks, parties and candidates go head to head to decide who will lead Canada over the next four years; so we ask, “What are they doing about poverty?” You’ll notice that this platform review is somewhat different from that of the Liberals, primarily because the Greens have provided a more detailed – if less strategically marketed – account of their policies in both their...
Minimum Wage Rate Exchange: Dave Taylor & Minister...
Minimum Wage Rate
Mr. Taylor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 10, 150 days to the day, the Minister of Employment and Immigration sent the chair of the Standing Committee on the Economy his response to the committee’s report on Alberta’s minimum wage policy, just as the standing orders require him to do. In essence, the minister’s response said: thanks for conducting the review I requested; I’ll...
The Liberal Platform – A Good Start Towards...
The federal parties released their platforms last week, and as part of an organization advocating for poverty reduction, it’s my job to evaluate their implications for poverty in Canada.
Today we’re focusing on the liberals, who were the first to release the platform, and who set the bar high, with many of the their key policy issues – and certainly all those discussed in their online platform...
Why Calgarians feel a Living Wage is important
At the most recent Market Collective, Calgarians gave us – and the Minister of Employment and Immigration, Thomas Lukaszuk – their thoughts on why the Living Wage is important to them. Here’s what some of them had to say:
“Those people who cannot meet their basic needs are friends, family, neighbours and Canadians. To keep people in the cycle of poverty because wages are not high enough is...
@FreeFareElxn41 Inspiration for Free Fare...
How can we have the biggest impact on people living in poverty this federal Election Cycle? That’s the question that began Free Fare Elections, because free transit would make it a little bit easier for all Canadians to vote on Election Day. Over three million Canadians live in poverty, which is more than 10% of our population. If you’ve ever spent time with a low income single mother, or a...
We Do It on New Year's Eve. Let's Do It on...
Most Canadian cities provide free transit every year on New Year’s Eve; why not once every (one to) four years on election day?
This strikes me as a no-brainer, albeit with a few bureaucratic details to smooth out. Providing free transit on election day is not only a good PR move on behalf of the federal government – in demonstrating its commitment to democracy and to the environment – it will...
March 2011
12 posts
A Little Paint, Goes a Long Way
It’s Monday and all of us at VCC are reflecting on the weekend we just spent at Market Collective. If you’ve never been, it is an amazing array of local artists and artisans selling original art, jewelry, and pottery. We were lucky to get a spot to share information about poverty in Calgary, and even luckier that the two women who run it accommodated our unconventional approach. We papered the...
A Federal Budget to Reduce Poverty
Economist Stephen Gordon said yesterday of the federal budget “there is indeed very little in the budget for low-income people. Many measures such as the nonrefundable tax credits - are simply not applicable to those with very low incomes.”
Below you will find an alternative budget developed by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that sets poverty reduction targets for the millions...
Community Letters: Minister Lukaszuk: Raise the...
Dear Minister Lukaszuk,
I am writing to express my concern over your response to Mr. Chase’s recent questions regarding Alberta’s low minimum wage. I am, frankly, embarrassed to reside in a province that continues to require so little of employers. Every Albertan deserves to earn a fair wage on which they can support themselves. It should go without saying that a full time worker...
Secondary Suite Summary
On Monday, March 7th, City Council met and debated about the fate of secondary suites in Calgary. Given that the process is complicated, it is no wonder that the debate was extensive with several motions, referrals, and amendments. As such, we thought it would be helpful to have a quick guide to the decisions. We don’t want to rehash our position on suites; it is well documented through our past...
Minimum Wage Exchange: Harry Chase & Minister...
Minimum Wage
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past two years Al- berta’s minimum wage of $8.80 a hour, the second-lowest in the country, has been deliberately frozen by Canada’s wealthiest pro- vincial government. Over 60 per cent of minimum wage earners are women while the remainder consists to a significant degree of seniors on fixed incomes and students helping support their fami-...
03.09.2011 Federal Parliament Exchange
Mr. Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, NDP): “Mr. Speaker, the government’s refusal to implement a national poverty strategy is an insult to our vulnerable citizens. For three years, the human resources committee has-heard from 260 witnesses who have overwhelmingly called for Ottawa to lead in the fight against poverty. Their testimony showed, without a doubt, that Canadians expect...
Lethbridge sees Movement on Municipal Poverty...
March 3, 2011: Great article from Lethbridge Herald around Lethbridge developing a Municipal Poverty Reduction Strategy. Read it here.
VCC Celebrates Women's Day
Today I’m taking time to reflect on and appreciate the women in my life: my mother, who shared with me her passion for music, language and public service; my grandmothers – two “Jills”-of-all-trades and veritable forces of nature; I’d even like to take a moment for my father, who has always matter-of-factly called himself a feminist, and aptly manifested what that means.
These positive role...
Secondary Suites and the Controversy that Isn’t
What makes the decision on Monday supposedly controversial? Where has this myth of controversy come from?
As we have examined all of the evidence and arguments we are left puzzling over this continued “controversy”. In a blog post last week, we recognized that there is a lot to consider in these kinds of complex decisions, but evidence has been overwhelmingly in favour of legalizing secondary...
Calgary Chamber of Commerce Supports Secondary...
Great article, read it here! With Broad Community Support Now Established the Calgary Chamber urges City Council to permit secondary suites in all Neighbourhoods.
Secondary suites Polling Shows Strong Support...
Calgary, March 3, 2011 – A poll released today by the University of Calgary Students’ Union shows that 79 per cent of Calgarians support the legalization of existing secondary suites, a popular form of student housing, while only 12 per cent oppose the proposed changes coming before City Council on Monday, March 7th. Even more remarkable was the willingness of Calgary homeowners to accept...
Open Letter to Minister Lukaszuk: Minimum Wage...
Mr. Thomas Lukaszuk, MLA Minister of Employment and Immigration March 1, 2011 Dear Mr. Lukaszuk: Thank you for addressing the impending minimum wage policy review in your CBC Radio interview today; our conversation reflected the education that is still needed around such a policy. I am writing to you as the Director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, a non-profit organization that works...
February 2011
7 posts
Minimum Wage Increase, A Partial Solution to...
Part of the reason there are so many people living in poverty is because we accept outdated information from irreputable sources.
While 2010 was a progressive year for minimum wage increases across Canada, Alberta maintains the second lowest minimum wage in the nation; this is the case even as its economy is forecasted to grow healthily. A recent article in the Calgary Beacon, written by...
Blog: In support of Ald. Mar and Councillor...
We have been talking to people all week about the disappointing result from the Land Use committee on Secondary Suites this week but we are certainly not deterred in our efforts as we head to the full council meeting on March 7th. In some of these conversations and certainly over twitter in the last few days Aldermen Keating and Mar have been taking some flak for declaring a Pecuniary interest...
What makes a good decision as an elected official?
We elect our City Council to make difficult decisions on our behalf. I don’t envy anyone who has to make the kinds of decisions council faces regularly. No sooner did council get through the budget decisions for the year, when they had to face deliberating on fluoride in the city’s water and the airport underpass; two decisions that created much debate. Council worked its way through these...
A Town Hall meeting for the 21st century…
And for a city of one million people. To be one person living in such a booming and diverse city it may be hard to believe that a forum exists to truly be heard by City Council. Mayor Nenshi said that he would ask for input from Calgarians following the budget review, and he has implemented a system to allow for exactly that. Beginning February 23rd, Calgarians will be invited to participate...
Caledon Institute of Social Policy on Secondary...
Here is an excerpt from a paper written by Sherri Torjman of the Caledon Institute entitled “New Ingredients for the Health Care Mix” that addresses one of the benefits of secondary suites. You can find the entire paper on the Caledon Institute’s website www.caledoninst.org
“Another possibility involves support for the development of secondary suites. These are...
Calgary Herald on Secondary Suites #suiteyyc
Check out this article from this morning’s Calgary Herald on secondary suites with quotes form VCC
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/City+battle+looms+over+basement+suites/4270871/story.html
Experience in Engagement: Low-income Calgarians...
Mayor Nenshi recently announced plans for a concerted Public Engagement process for the next budget cycle. With assistance from professional facilitators, Dialogue Partners, Calgarians will be asked what’s important to them through face-to-face opportunities, resources to host conversations, and online media. This engagement process is a way for all Calgarians to act as problem solvers by having...
January 2011
4 posts
Why Cities? Why Poverty? Seminar
VCC recently participated in a presentation facilitated by Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement that we would like to share with you. The Why Cities? Why Poverty? Seminar featured guest speaker, Brock Carleton, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities as interviewed by Tamarack President and Co-Founder, Paul Born. We found the presentation to be valuable...
Red tape: compounding challenges for the poor
When I heard today that the City of Calgary was starting to reduce red tape associated with city services (one of Mayor Nenshi’s campaign promises) I assumed that they would start with the Low Income Transit Pass, since we have heard from so many Calgarians about how challenging the process can be to navigate. Red tape for people in poverty means hours spent filling out forms to prove they are...
Fluoride is out? Now what?
Today a committee of the Calgary City Council voted to recommend that the city stop adding fluoride to Calgary’s drinking water, and I have no idea if that was a wise decision or not. To be honest until recently I had never given much thought to fluoride but we heard many people in the city talk about how adding fluoride to the drinking water was a very important and effective strategy to improve...
Dave Taylor - Values Over Party Politics
When I first heard that MLA Dave Taylor is going to sit as an Alberta Party member in the next session of the Alberta Legislature I was certainly intrigued. As many of you know, Dave is a close friend of VCC and we have enjoyed working with him toward a poverty reduction strategy for our province. If you remember, it was back in September that Dave proposed a motion to the Standing Committee on...
December 2010
1 post
How Low Do I Have To Go? - Guest Blog
Last week, Calgary’s civically engaged twitters were abuzz over city council’s decision to lower the price of the Low-Income Transit Pass <http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+income+transit+pass+drop/3912745/story.html> . This was quite remarkable considering council had proposed raising the price to $45 from $41.50 and instead lowered it to $40. This change of direction is...