Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS

As part of International Development Week, the Dalhousie International Development Studies Department and collaborators are hosting a public workshop: "Policy Advocacy Skill Building for Youth Activists" on Feb 11 (10-12). Speakers include El Jones (activist, spoken word artist, and MSVU prof), Lisa Roberts (MLA for Halifax-Needham) and Christine Saulnier (Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - NS. Register in advance for this meeting:... https://us02web.zoom.us//tZUoc-6pqjkvH9B-Y9uo0N8FspV5sIIqq After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. See more

There is little time left before public consultations on proposed regulations in support of the new federal Pay Equity Act close on January 13th. After years spent looking ahead to a new pay equity regime in Canada, what’s at stake is not just about a pay raise, as vital as that is. It’s also a reckoning about the value that we attach to women’s work, and who decides what that value is. CCPA-Nova Scotia Research Associate Mike Bradfield on pay equity. Read on:... https://behindthenumbers.ca//costs-benefits-of-pay-equity/ https://behindthenumbers.ca//costs-benefits-of-pay-equity/ CCPA-Nova Scotia Research Associate Mike Bradfield on pay equity.

40 cents is not enough. The minimum should move to $15 with a plan to bridge to a living wage. Living wages: Halifax: $21.80 CBRM: $17.65 Bridgewater:$16.80... Antigonish:$19.55 See more

One of the recommendations in our 2020 Child and family poverty report card was for a Child and Youth Advocacy office. Here is a campaign by the NS college of Social Workers about why that is important. https://childyouthadvocatens.org/

By 11:17 a.m. Jan. 4, the first working day of the year, the average top paid CEO will have made as much money as the avg Cdn worker. $10.8 M is a pretty comfy golden cushion. (2019) That is 202 times more than average worker ($53,482) Many of these same CEOs are set to receive bonuses even while working for companies receiving government support for COVID impact. Among the top 100 highest paid CEOs:... Emera (owner of NS Power) $6.7 M; Air Canada’s CEO $14.87 M; Cdn National Rail $8.9 M Shaw Cmns $6.7 M; MrWeston (Loblaws/superstore) $6.7 M Recommendations: -Eliminate executive tax benefits such as the capital gains & stock option deductions. -Introduce new marginal tax rates on extreme incomes. -Ensure companies who received COVID-related wage supports do not pay executive bonuses. https://policyalternatives.ca/public/reports/golden-cushion

Apply by Jan 4th 6pm Atlantic Time. We are hiring! See the full job ad on our website and information on how to apply and what to include in your application. Please note, we do require a complete application (cover letter and resume) to be emailed. https://www.policyalternatives.ca//community-development-o

We are hiring! See the full job ad on our website and information on how to apply and what to include in your application. Please note, we do require a complete application (cover letter and resume) to be emailed. https://www.policyalternatives.ca//community-development-o

LaTulippe-Rochon believes following all of the recommendations [in the report] is the only way Nova Scotia and Cape Breton will see a reduction in child and family policy numbers. "We need to follow all of them. We can't pick any one and go with that. We need to follow all of them and we need to stand up and say the situation we're in just isn't good enough."

The 2020 Report Card on Child and Family poverty has been released. An overview of the findings: -Between 1989 and 2018, child poverty rates decreased in every province and territory except Nova Scotia. -The child poverty rate in 2018 was 24.6%, up from 24.2% in 2017 (a 1.7% increase).... 41,370: Number of Children living in poverty in Nova Scotia Almost 1 in 4 children in Nova Scotia lived in poverty. Read the full report here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca//2020-report-card-child- Press Release is here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca//increasing-number-nova-findings-2020-report Infographic: https://www.policyalternatives.ca//2020-report-card-child-

Everyone deserves decent wages and a good quality of life. Our living wage rates are an important evidence-based benchmark to inform questions about what is a fair wage and what we can do to better support low-waged workers. Here are the living wage rates for 2020 for Nova Scotia: $21.80 for Halifax $19.55 for Antigonish $17.65 for CBRM (Cape Breton Regional Muni)... $16.80 for Bridgewater And for Saint John, NB: $19.55 https://www.policyalternatives.ca//living-wages-nova-scoti Largest cost for all communities is shelter, then child care, then food. Employers need to pay wages that support people to have a decent life. We also need government to address the cost-side, as we have outlined in our recommendations. We need investments in child care, affordable housing, post-secondary education, local food systems, transportation and more. Read the full report for details on the calculations. https://www.policyalternatives.ca//living-wages-nova-scoti

Thanks to everyone who attended last night. If you. missed this event, there is a recording of the book discussion. https://youtu.be/HDG8r0HQZOc And if you want a snapshot of the work of CCPA-NS over the past year, here is a link to the director's report discussed last night. https://docs.google.com//1iICAR0AbrjhVmHpzGQR_NEJSns/edit

Just released the living wage for Charlottetown. https://www.policyalternatives.ca//charlottetown-living-wa Press release...Continue reading

CCPA-NS director, Christine Saulnier will be joining this panel on October 13th at 7pm to consider the impacts of poverty and the fiscal and social policies required to create greater equity and social inclusion post COVID-19. Registration is required but it is free. https://us02web.zoom.us//regist/WN_NZPe0qKcQeyT9omi9X_8_g

New report released about P3s in our Atlantic neighbour Newfoundland and Labrador. We had hoped to find that this province had learned lessons from other jurisdictions about these 'partnerships', but unfortunately we have found many red flags and concerns--from biased consultants, to lack of transparency, to profiteering at the expense of public services, to lack of community input, and on it goes. More could have been built and operated using strengthened public procurement. You can read the full report here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca//many-dangers-public-pri

Last night Halifax Regional Council passed a motion to pay city contractors a living wage. How about other municipalities? Living wage rates have been calculated for CBRM,Antigonish, and Bridgewater.