FEDERAL TAX CREDITS COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON LOW INCOME FAMILIES

FEDERAL TAX CREDITS COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON LOW INCOME FAMILIES - The anti-poverty coalition, Campaign 2000, has recommended that certain tax credits paid out to all families each year could be better spent directly on low income families. The child tax benefit, the child fitness tax benefit, and the universal child care benefit could be replaced with a child benefit supplement for poor families and would go a long way to reducing poverty in Canada. “For many families it would mean higher quality food, …it would mean better housing and housing is a very important determinant on its own of health. For some families it might mean that children can become involved in activities that they otherwise couldn’t become involved in. Some children would certainly be clothed better.” (Sid Frankel, a University of Manitoba social work associate professor and Campaign 2000 committee member.) See more at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/185935-canada-in-brief-november-21-2012 .

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES THE CALL FOR NEW IDEAS ON SOCIAL FINANCING

Human Resources Minister, Diane Finley, has launched a call for ideas on how private sector social financing can shape future social policy in Canada. Social financing is a way to use private sector funding to finance social programs. It offers an opportunity for charities, non-profits, and social purpose businesses to open new sources of funding.  Many non-profits are trapped in a cycle of short term subsistence funding that diverts attention from their mission. It is a way for social purpose businesses to contribute to social programs. Minister Finley has expressed her concern “with the lack of progress in social programs, and wants to dramatically re-arrange the system so that there are incentives to deliver better results.” (Chronicle Herald, November 9, 2012). The National Consultation invites ideas from organizations and individuals from across the country on how to improve social and economic outcomes for Canadians. Comments can be made before December 31, 2012 on the website at: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/consultations/index.shtml .

PSYCHIATRIST CAUTIONS COVERAGE OF SUICIDES MAY BE PROBLEMATIC

The extensive use by media that cover adolescent suicides may push desperate young people to choose death as a solution to their pain. Dr. Stan Kutcher, professor of psychiatry at Dalhousie University Medical School, has expressed concern about the wide media coverage of suicides like that of recent bullying victim, Amanda Todd. Dr. Kutcher claims that vulnerable young people who are suffering depression and contemplating death as a solution may be encouraged to choose death as a solution. “It’s important to understand that young people who are thinking of dying by suicide are very ambivalent about that decision. They usually agonize over this for weeks or months or longer. There’s a huge push and pull between the decision, should I take my life or should I choose life.” (Excerpt taken from the Chronicle Herald on October 19, 2012. (Read the article at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/150918-media-coverage-of-suicides-concerns-expert )

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN IS NOT GOOD PARENTING

An article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal is strongly advocating for the removal of section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada which permits parents and teachers to use corporal punishment in the name of discipline. Corporal punishment is a form of assault and if used against any other human being would be considered assault under the Criminal Code. Section 43 states in part “… a parent is justified in using force by way of correction … if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.”  Using corporal punishment is a poor excuse for effective parenting and instead of using section 43 as a protection against criminal prosecution, parents who use hitting, spanking or more serious assaults leaving an injury, need education around more effective approaches to positive parenting. “To have a specific code excusing parents is to suggest that assault by a parent is a normal and accepted part of bringing up children.” See the editorial in the CMA Journal at: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/184/12/1339

FINALLY, THE DEBATE BEGINS!

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), a think tank, has opened the debate on suggesting ways to increase social programing and transit options in Halifax’s municipal elections this fall. So far there has been little debate on details that citizens want to see from candidates. Most candidates so far have refused to commit themselves on details of their platforms preferring to wait for the right political moment or to wait and consult with the public before committing themselves. Although the CCPA has suggested applying a 4% surcharge to income taxes, a measure that citizens may not be quick to endorse, it claims that this would provide funding for social programs and transit while cutting property taxes. The alternative budget would create a source of steady income for non-profit groups already working in the community. Christine Saulnier, the CCPA’s Nova Scotia director said, “There’s perhaps more social policy spending (but) we’re not asking HRM to actually provide services, we are asking them to help the programs that exist and help grow some of the things that are at the local level”. See the full Alternative Municipal Budget for HRM at: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/ccpa-ns-releases-first-ever-alternative-municipal-budget-hrm

2012 JOINT WORLD CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: ACTION AND IMPACT - Not able to attend the 2012 Joint World Conference in Stockholm, Sweden (July 8-12, 2012) in person? No problem, the International Association of Social Workers (IFSW) has made the conference available on line! Share in the wealth of knowledge presented by educators and social development practitioners from all corners of the world. To view a summary of the event and the day by day plenary sessions, interviews and the conference presentations. Go to: http://ifsw.org/news/world-conference-on-social-work-and-social-development-see-what-happened/ Quoted from: CASW Reporter, July 2012

PREMIERS ENDORSE A REPORT AT THE COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION – A health care innovation group Co-chaired by Premiers Brad Wall and Robert Ghiz was established by the Council of the Federation in January 2012 and presented their report to the Council on July 26^th as reported by the National Post. The report made recommendations that require voluntary acceptance by the provinces once they have an opportunity to review and determine how the recommendations can be implemented in a particular province. “The report contains 12 recommendations on how provinces and territories can deliver better care, save dollars and find more value in the $130-billion health-care system.” A major recommendation is for provinces to agree on a bulk buying mechanism for 3 – 5 generic drugs. “Other voluntary measures recommended by the report include: adopting common treatment guidelines for heart disease and diabetes (including harmonized guidelines for prevention and screening); sharing information to help trim labour costs and reduce competition in hiring health professionals such as doctors and nurses; and implementing team-based care to prevent patients from jumping from one provider to another.” See the report at: http://www.councilofthefederation.ca/pdfs/Health%20Innovation%20Report-E-WEB.pdf