Canada's Poverty Gap Reaching Third World Levels
A Toronto Star article has succinctly summarized the statistics regarding the increasing prosperity gap in this country and looks at the reasons. Among the facts:
- The gap between rich and poor in Canada is close to that of Indonesia;
- We are behind Egypt and Pakistan in income equality
- 1 million children are estimated to be living in poverty
- 1 in 5 familes live below the poverty line
- Canada's spending on social services ranked 24th among OECD countries
Read the article here.
La Pêche, Québec Becomes Second Fair Trade Town in Canada
La Pêche, Québec officially unveiled its new desigination as a Fair Trade Town on November 9, 2007. To become a certified Fair Trade Town, 6 goals must be met:
- Support from the local city council for Fair Trade and the campaign;
- Fair Trade Certified products must be made available in stores and restaurants;
- Fair Trade Certified products to be used and promoted in workplaces, faith groups, schools;
- Public awareness must be raised and there must be media coverage on Fair Trade and the campaign;
- A steering group must be created to ensure a continued commitment;
- Other ethical and sustainable initiatives are promoted in the community.
The Fair Trade Towns campaign was started in the UK in 1999 and there are now 250 towns with the designation in the UK. In Canada, the campaign is run by Transfair. Click here to visit the Transfair website where you can download a Fair Trade Towns Action kit.
Click here to read the press release about La Pêche becoming a Fair Trade Town.
Urban Sprawl Contributor to Diabetes Epidemic
A study released this month by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) shows that diabetes rates in Toronto were highest in neighborhoods with a large population of visible minority, low-income earners that were heavily dependent upon cars to travel to grocery stores and other services. The study showed that diabetes rates in Toronto's poorest neighborhoods are almost triple those in more densely populated areas downtown. The total number of diabetes cases has increased 27% in the last 4 years in Toronto. Read a Toronto Star article about the study or go to the ICES study website.
Portland Proposes Taxing Developers for Energy Inefficient Development
The City of Portland, Oregon wants to charge builders for each new home built that complies with the Oregon building code but that isn't extremely energy efficient. The money collected would then be used to fund cash rewards for developers who make buildings that save at least 45% more energy than is required by the building code. The plan would also require an energy efficiency report be done by home inspectors as part of every existing home sale. If passed, the plan would go into effect by 2010. Read more about this initiative here.
UNICEF Canada Says Child Poverty Increasing
A November 2007 report by UNICEF Canada states that the situation of children has largely worsened since Canada ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, particularly in the areas of poverty, obesity, mental illness, and rates of violence. The situation is particularly bad for Aboriginal children, who are three times more likely to live in poverty than other Canadian children. UNICEF is calling for a comprehensive legal framework and a sustainable and well-resourced national plan of action with clear and measurable targets in order to improve the situation of Canadian children. Read the report, entitled 18@18 here.
Municipal Infrastructure Deficit at $123 billion
A new report from FCM, Danger Ahead: The Coming Collapse of Canada's Municipal Infrastructure, has found that Canada's municipal infrastructure deficit is much worse than previously estimated and that the price tag of maintaining, repairing and replacing Canada's muncipal infrastructure has reached $123 billion. This figure stands in stark contrast to the previous 2003 figure of $60 billion. The new figure has taken into account a number of factors previously not considered. The main factor is that infrastructure deterioration accelerates with age. The longer spending on municipal infrastructure is put off, the higher the eventual costs. Other factors not previously considered include demographics, geography, local needs, climate change and economics.
The report highlights, once again, that increased responsibilities and limited sources of revenue have put municipalities in a fiscal squeeze, making it difficult for them to keep up with infrastructure demands. The report recommends the development of a national plan that "must bring long-term certainty to infrastructure funding".
To read the report click here.
Check out the Centre for Civic Governance's page on municipal underfunding.
City of Wolfville, NS Bans Smoking in Cars with Kids
Wolfville council has voted unanimously in favour of enacting a ban on smoking in a vehicle when there is a child under 18 present. The ban will take effect in June and anyone caught in violation will face between a $50-$200 fine. The town will give warnings to first-time offenders. Signs will be posted at the Town's borders, alerting motorists to the bylaw. Wolfville is hoping that this bylaw will encourage other municipalities to enact similar bans. Read the story here.