The Canadian Labour Congress is looking for stories from women in the workforce. When Canada’s unions launched their #DoneWaiting campaign, they identified several key barriers many women face: wage inequality, violence and harassment at work, and the lack of accessible and affordable child care. Now it’s time to expand the MORE
CBC News: B.C. introduces sick days as part of proposed employment law changes APTN News: B.C. social worker accused of punishing Indigenous youth for sexual assault while in foster care Vancouver Sun: Number of B.C. teens struggling with anxiety up in 2018: study CBC News: Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs demanding province take action MORE
Do you know someone who is making a difference in the lives of kids that are in or transitioning from the child welfare system? This National Award recognizes extraordinary Canadians or initiatives that have made an indelible mark on the child welfare landscape. The Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada will MORE
This week Health Canada released a revised Canada Food Guide. The revised guide steers away from food groups and portion sizes but recommends more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and puts an emphasis on plant-based proteins. With one in every six Canadian children living in households that are food insecure, the revised Food MORE
Last week, The United Nations Human Rights Committee issued a landmark decision that determined Canada discriminates against First Nations women and their descendants. Sharon McIvor and her son Jacob Grismer filed the petition in 2010 arguing that despite changes made in 1985, the Indian Act still “affects First Nations women’s entitlement to status, their MORE
A Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s news release alerts us to the stalling of Bill S-228, The Child Health Protection Act, an Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibiting food and beverage marketing directed at children) in the Senate due to industry lobbying. “This is exactly why MORE
CBC News: ‘There’s so many kids dying’: Mother says anti-gang program that saved her son desperately needs funding CBC News: Child poverty decreasing ‘pitifully slowly’ in B.C., report finds Vancouver Sun: B.C. child poverty figures remain bad, but report sounds note of optimism The Tyee: Whose Children Are Growing Up MORE
On Monday November 5, the Legislative Assembly of BC voted unanimously to approve the Poverty Reduction Strategy Act. This is an exciting next step towards eliminating poverty in BC, especially noting that the Act calls for a 50% reduction of child poverty in BC by 2024. A late amendment to the MORE
CBC News: Legislation sets path for human rights commission to return to B.C. CBC News: Homeless, vulnerable only find best health care when at death’s door, UVic study finds CTV News: Greyhound exit leaves gap for homeless, domestic violence shelters CBC News: Province responds to allegations against employee who allegedly siphoned funds from Indigenous MORE
Federally, Bill C-78 passed second reading in Parliament in October and is currently under review by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The bill proposes significant changes in the laws that affect children caught up in the separation and/or divorce of their parents and related family court processes. MORE
In August, the Government of Canada appealed an Ontario Superior Court decision that restricting political activities is a violation of the right to freedom of expression. This week, the government announced that it will “remove the limits on political activities for charities, so that they may pursue their charitable purposes MORE
Girl Guides of Canada recently released results of a research study by Ipsos Reid that surveyed over 1,200 girls and boys in Canada aged 12-18. The survey found that girls are twice as likely as boys to have experienced sexism. Race also has an impact on girls’ concern of gender MORE
UNICEF Canada released The Equalizer: How Education Creates Fairness for Children in Canada this week, which is the Canadian Companion to the global report. In The Equalizer, UNICEF digs deeper into what contributes to inequalities and how Canada could do better. Out of 38 rich countries, Canada ranks 9th in MORE
CBC News: Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to develop memorial register of residential school deaths BC Local News: Residential school ‘monster’ now lives in child-welfare system: senator Delta Optimist: B.C. announces new transition housing for women fleeing violence Benzinga: Public education is a strong equalizing force in Canadian society, UNICEF MORE
The major rise in caesarean sections around the world is being called unprecedented and unjustified. The Lancet Series finds that the global rate of caesarean birth has doubled in the past 15 years to 21%, and is increasing annually by 4%. There is growing concern as women who do not MORE