News and Issues

A powerful essay series by some of Canada’s leading thinkers on income inequality.

The contributors to this essay series come from all kinds of academic backgrounds. Though all the contributors are distinguished and well-respected for their academic work, they are not of like mind. They have differing ideological starting points and differing intellectual approaches.

But they agree on this: Income inequality is a problem that should be addressed, right here in Canada. They warn that income inequality and persistent poverty could have serious and adverse effects on our nation. 

The series be found on the CCPA web site and on the CCPA’s web site dedicated to income inequality.

The public incitement of hatred is illegal under the Criminal Code because it’s acknowledged to be a contributing factor in the promotion of violence and discrimination against the target group. And yet, politicians refuse to add the female half of the population to the protected groups, despite the fact that we are subjected to extraordinary levels of violence.  This fact sheet, produced by the Free Radical, explains that these alarming rates of harassment and sexual assault of girls is largely related to the rampant misogyny that exists in today’s popular culture. 

Following a presentation made by the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) to the Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) parliamentary committee, which began a study late last week into a poverty plan for Canada, CASW President Veronica Marsman stated, “The Canadian Association of Social Workers is pleased to participate in these hearings and hopes to see the federal government take some steps towards a national poverty plan.”  More information is available online.

Prevent Cancer Now highlights need to ban asbestos mining, restrict cosmetic pesticide use and regulate ingredients in personal products

April is Cancer Awareness month in Canada and the non-profit organization, Prevent Cancer Now (PCN) wants to make *cancer prevention* the main focus.

Prevent Cancer Now is appealing to all Canadians to make Cancer Awareness month a wake-up call to our governments and regulatory agencies to take steps to control our exposure to carcinogens.

By Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Economist Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Canadian women make up half the electorate and almost half the nation’s income tax payers. They contribute $42.4 billion in personal income taxes to the well-being of all Canadians. Despite this heft, this budget is written as if women are afterthoughts, mere asterisks in the larger Canadian story.   Download the article.

In the little more than a decade since it was launched commercially, the Internet has changed the way Canadians conduct their everyday activities, from viewing weather, news and sports to banking and paying bills. The Internet has also changed the way many Canadians obtain health information, and potentially, their relationship with physicians.  Read the entire article.

C. Herbert MD, C. Whiteside MD PhD, D. McKnight MD MHSc, and colleagues

In a guest editorial, Herbert and colleagues refute recent media reports that have implied a causal link between the increasing proportion of women in medicine and Canada's doctor shortage.  Read the editidorial.

This Fast Facts was published in the Winnipeg Free Press on February 19th. Coincidentally, the following day, the media reported on the release of the Castonguay Report in Quebec. This report responded to last year’s narrow majority ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada which opened up the possibility of a parallel health care system, at least for Quebec. Read the Fast Facts for the CCPA's take on the parallel health care model. 

Health Canada is informing Canadians of an ongoing safety review of distant toxin spread potentially associated with Botox and Botox Cosmetic. A similar review was recently announced by the US Food and Drug Administration linking Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A), and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B) to cases of adverse reactions, including respiratory failure and death, following treatment of a variety of conditions using a range of doses.  Read the review.

Article in Financial Times

Published: February 22 2008

Merck’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil is seeing physician skepticism regarding its wide-scale use, as doubts of long-term safety and efficacy linger, Pharmawire has found. Recent reports have linked deaths and rare serious adverse events to the vaccine, doctors said.  Read the full article.