Thursday March 1, 2012 @ 1:30
The John Howard Society of Manitoba
3rd Floor, 583 Ellice Avenue.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Mb. and
The John Howard Society of Manitoba, Inc. will release their report:
Bill C-10: The Truth About Consequences
This report was produced with the collaboration of Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin, The Community Education Development Association, The Canadian CED Network, Maintain the Momentum and Make Poverty History Manitoba.
The Federal Government’s Omnibus Crime Bill C-10, if passed, will cost the province of Manitoba an estimated $90 million a year. The vast majority of these funds will be spent on locking more people up for longer, a strategy that fails to create safer communities. Strategies that focus on prevention, not punishment, succeed. Our plan focuses on investing that $90 million in four key areas: housing, education, employment and mental health/addictions.
Please join us for the release of this report.
On February 16 the Green Action Centre, along with several other organizations, hosted a public forum on the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. This pipeline, if built, will run from Alberta’s tar sands to the pristine northern coast of B.C. It will send crude oil to Kitimat B.C., which will host hundreds of oil tankers that will ship the crude to China.
Before reaching the coast, the pipeline will pass through B.C’s Great Bear Rain Forest and other natural areas. Given the track record of the oil industry, we must ask what the impact of a pipeline leak will be.
The consequences of an oil spill in these treacherous waters will be devastating, with unthinkable damage to wildlife and First Nations communities.
Notwithstanding the environmental concerns, it is not even clear if there is a credible economic argument to be made for going ahead with the pipeline. The political economy of the tar sands already creates regional disparities and jeopardizes our national energy security.
The panel included Gerald Amos from Haisla First Nation (B.C.), Lynne Fernandez from CCPA Mb., Anne Lindsay and Wade Davis, explorer in residence for the National Geographic Society. To view a video of the presentations, go to: http://greenactioncentre.ca/2012/hundreds-fill-hall-for-pipeline-forum/
One of the biggest topics of conversations these days is the impact that the baby boomer generation will have on Canadian society as it turns 65. In Winnipeg, baby boomers live primarily in the suburbs. Suburbs are generally characterized by low-density development and land use separation: buildings are spread out, and homes are completely segregated from the vast majority of services.
If boomers continue to live in the suburbs as they age – which is likely – we will face significant challenges in delivering services and meeting this group’s housing, transportation and other needs. In a new report released by the CCPA-MB, Art Ladd asks if Manitoba’s policies and strategies for addressing the aging population are sufficient.
The report examines current suburban development patterns, the expected population change, as well as the aging process itself. It reviews the social aspects of health and how these relate to housing, transportation, and support service needs. This review is followed by a critique of the Government of Manitoba’s current strategies and policies on aging. In conclusion, it offers a range of recommendations to help make Manitoba cities more liveable for older adults.
For a copy of the report, click here.
by Rebecca Fries
I have just read Errol Black and Jim Silver’s review of the book Revolutionary Doctors (“Revolutionary Health Care,” CCPA-Manitoba Fast Facts, January 4, 2012). I agree with what they say about the important role that Cuban doctors play in Central America. Based on my experience, what Cuban medical personnel do in Central America is a testament to Cuba’s commitment to providing quality health care services, both within and beyond their borders. After living and working in Central America and Mexico for over 10 years, I can confirm many of the central points argued by Black and Silver.
After attending Brandon University in the 1990s, I studied Social Work at the University of Calgary and later pursued a practicum placement in Central America. This experience led to over 10 years of supporting local development with organisations of small farmers, indigenous people and women in Central America.
I learned a lot about economic and social conditions there, including the vital role played by Cuba in supplying doctors and other professional health care workers to the region. I learned also about the role of Cuba in helping citizens of other countries to acquire the same knowledge, skills and qualifications in Cuban medical schools.
In Central America and Mexico, conditions of poverty are exacerbated by governments’ failure to provide accessible education, health and social services, particularly to the rural indigenous population. Complex historical socio-economic and political factors combine with the widening war amongst drug cartels in the region, and the extreme levels of corruption and impunity in Mesoamerica, and all of these have contributed to the creation of near failed states in countries such as Guatemala and Honduras. Governments are not accountable to their populations, and there are generalized levels of distrust, misuse and mismanagement of public funds, and severe fraud among public officials. Attempts to improve access to public services such as health and education have been stunted by corruption, and the lack of available public resources has limited attempts to make advances in this area.
I had many experiences with the Guatemalan healthcare system that were appalling, and that highlighted the lack of quality service. This was especially the case in remote areas of the country. The one factor that has caused a shift in access to health services is that for several years the Cuban government has been providing Guatemala and other countries with one of their most valuable resources—highly skilled people. Based on my experience, the presence of Cuban doctors in Guatemala together with the Cuban government’s programme that brings international students to study top-notch medicine in Cuba is making a marked difference in access to health care. In remote areas where previously there was no access to services, medical professionals from Cuba are providing high quality care.
In 2007, my partner at the time was on an assignment to photo-document an inhumation in the remote Guatemalan highlands of the Quiche Department. In Guatemala, inhumations usually involve the ceremonial re-burial by family and community members of remains uncovered in communal mass graves from the period of the 30 year internal conflict, during which genocide was committed largely against the rural indigenous population. During the drive back to Guatemala City, on a treacherous dirt road winding through the mountains, his jeep skidded on the gravel and plummeted over a sharp cliff. Upon regaining consciousness, Ulysses knew that he and his colleague were in trouble. Rodrigo had been thrown through the windshield and was half buried in dirt, not breathing. They were very far from an urban centre, and in any event public health services in Guatemala are sketchy at best. To make a very long story short (which includes local indigenous healers, raw eggs and the amazing will and solidarity of local villagers), they were eventually transported to the closest small village. Ulysses managed to gain consciousness and speak to me a few times briefly. He described the “facility” as bare, with little for supplies and equipment, and without electricity to do a simple X-ray to determine internal injuries. Then he said, “but, we are in luck, there is a Cuban doctor here!”
That brought huge relief. We all had witnessed the commitment of the Cuban government to educating and sharing skilled Cuban medical practitioners in acts of solidarity with Guatemala, and with other Latin American countries with less access to top universally accessible health care. These acts of global solidarity had produced a huge and positive impact on health services throughout the region.
Additionally, Cuba offers several scholarships every year to aspiring doctors, in Guatemala and other countries. Several Guatemalans I know have family and friends who have been supported by the Cuban government to study in Cuba, where they can earn a top-quality medical education. This would have been otherwise impossible.
Ulysses and Rodrigo recovered fully; weeks later they were raving about the amazing work of the Cuban professional, who, in this remote village without electricity, stitched them up and attended to their injuries. Later they were flown by their agencies to the top hospital in Guatemala City, but by then they were already well. I was left thinking about all the villagers in this remote area of Guatemala who rely on this doctor. They would not otherwise have access to care.
The high quality medical service provided to Guatemalans as part of Cuba’s commitment to countries “in development” is a no-brainer. I had known in a theoretical way about Cuba’s international health care work. But this, along with other personal experiences, made me more aware of the situation of those leaving Guatemala to study in Cuba. I noticed Cuban optometric and orthodontic delegations, and also looked for medical attention myself from Cuban professionals, which dramatically changed my own experience with healthcare in Guatemala.
I could share several more anecdotes about the provision of health services by Cuban medical professionals doing their service in Guatemala, but my greatest lessons included the reiteration of the importance of the values of sharing and solidarity, and the amazing power of building and sharing human skills in a country historically excluded by embargos and with little access to material resources.
Rebecca Fries is currently working as an independent consultant out of Mexico City with international NGOs in the field of development.
Tuesday February 14 – Meeting at City Hall
The February 14, Property and Development Committee Meeting is a very important opportunity to voice your concerns about the sale of City-owned golf courses for commercial and residential development. There is a motion on the agenda regarding sale of golf courses. The meeting will be chaired by Jeff Browaty. Committee members are Councillors Nordman, Pagtakhan, Wyatt, and Mayor Katz (ex officio).
Date: Tuesday, February 14
Where: City Hall, 510 Main Street
Time: The meeting begins at 9:00 am. The agenda may be viewed at www.winnipeg.ca/CLKDMIS 96 hours before the meeting. Select ‘latest agendas’ from the menu.
Attend if you can: your presence will be felt by the committee. OURS (Outdoor Urban Recreational Spaces) will be presenting.
If you’re interested in keeping City golf courses owned by and accessible to the public, attend the February 14th meeting.
For more information on this issue, please see the Fast Facts.
Friends of CCPA will be interested in this public forum. CCPA’s Lynne Fernandez will be one of the presenters.
February 16, 7 pm.
University of Winnipeg
Richardson College for the Environment & Science Complex
599 Portage Ave.
Speakers:
Dr. Wade Davis, Explorer in Residence, National Geographic Society, Visiting Professor and Senior Fellow of the Masters in Development Practice (MDP) Indigenous Development program, University of Winnipeg and author of The Sacred Headwaters: the fight to save the Stikine, Skeena and Nass.
Gerald Amos, former elected Chief Councillor for the Haisla First Nation for 12 years. He has been a leading voice for conservation in Canada for thirty years. He is the author of an open letter to Prime
Minister Stephen Harper and Natural Resources Minister, Joe Oliver “No apology forthcoming”.
Lynne Fernandez, Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives. Lynne has an MA in economics from the University of Manitoba. Lynne researches municipal and provincial social and economic policy. She is also interested in labour and environmental issues. Lynne is an ex-pat Albertan who was born and raised in Calgary. She likes living in Winnipeg.
Anne Lindsey, former executive director, Manitoba Eco-Network. Anne has worked and volunteered on Manitoba and national issues such as nuclear waste, forestry, food and pesticides, since 1984, including numerous experiences with environmental reviews.
Moderated by Richard Cloutier, host of Richard Cloutier Reports on CJOB 68.
This event is organized by the Manitoba Eco-Network, Green Action Centre, Climate Change Connection, the Council of Canadians, and the Green Action Committee of the First Unitarian-Universalist Church, with the support of the University of Manitoba’s Global Political Economy Program, the Masters in Development Practice (MDP) Indigenous Development program with the University of Winnipeg and the University of Winnipeg.
Check out the Facebook event for updates and more info.
On February 3rd, 2012, the City of Brandon dedicated a park in honour of Errol Black. Errol is a founding member of CCPA Manitoba and a long-time board member. CCPA Manitoba extends a heartfelt congratulations to Errol. This is a well deserved honour for his continued dedication to the City where he was raised and has contributed so much to. The following letter from Errol was printed today in the Brandon Sun.
On Feb. 3, the new park in the east end (situated on land occupied for many years by the “Skunk and Junk” and an Imperial Oil Depot) was dedicated in my name.
I’m not really sure I understand how this happened, but it did, and I must say that I’m both humbled and pleased by this honour.
First, I would like to thank the mayor and city councillors for their unanimous decision to do this. I watched on TV the discussion the resolution brought forward by Coun. Len Isleifson and Coun. Jim McCrae. I was touched by the kind words from all councillors.
Second, I tip my hat to the editors at the Brandon Sun who encouraged and approved council’s decision.
And third, I must acknowledge the support of our family members and the many people who either came out to participate in the naming of the park or sent cards or emails of congratulations.
As most people know, I’ve lived virtually my whole life in the east end of Brandon. I was born at 224 Percy St. and later lived at 132 Frederick St. (about a block from the southeast corner of this new park). For the past 42 years, Margaret and I have lived at 212 13th St. E.
All of our lives we’ve been blessed with good friends and neighbours in the east end, and also many others who have shared our interest in politics and life in general.
A lot of east enders were at the ceremony last Friday. I want to recognize all the people past and present who have devoted, and continue to devote their time and energy to make in the east end a robust, civil and engaged community based on mutual respect and sharing.
Their dedication and labour are reflected especially in the assets and activities at the East End Community Centre and Rideau Park.
Among those people, I would include previous city councillors from the east end: Walter Green, Jim Campbell, Emily Lyons (who attended the dedication), Jim Armstrong, Barry Brooking and Ross Martin.
Also present at the ceremony were many people we have met over the years through our places of work, our participation in the East End Community Centre and similar organizations as our children were growing up. And also through our membership on many boards and committees and our longtime involvement in the labour movement and the NDP.
All of the people we’ve come in contact with over these many years have shared with us an abiding interest in the City of Brandon, and a recognition that we are indeed blessed to live in this “city of promise.”
Cheers.
Errol Black, Brandon
Looking for information about housing in Winnipeg? Look no further – here are the updated facts and statistics about housing in Winnipeg and Manitoba. (The previous page is here).
References are available at the bottom of the page, in case you are looking for more details.
Core Housing Need
Definition of Core Housing Need
“Acceptable housing is defined as adequate and suitable shelter that can be obtained without spending 30 per cent or more of before-tax household income. Adequate shelter is housing that is not in need of major repair. Suitable shelter is housing that is not crowded, meaning that it has sufficient bedrooms for the size and make-up of the occupying household. The subset of households classified as living in unacceptable housing and unable to access acceptable housing is considered to be in core housing need.”(1)
Core Housing Need
In 2006: (2)
- 11.3 % of all MB households lived in core housing need (46,900 people)
- 24.0 % of MB renter households lived in core housing need (28,800 people)
- 6.2 % of MB owner households lived in core housing need (18,100 people)
- 22.3 % of those who immigrated to Canada between 2001 and 2006 lived in core housing need in Manitoba (1,600 people)
In 2006: (3)
- 37.3 % of Winnipeg tenant-occupied households spent over 30% of their income on housing.
- 11.6 % of Winnipeg owner-occupied households spend over 30% of their income on housing.
Renting in Manitoba
Current Vacancy Rates
In October, 2011, the vacancy rate was (4)
- 1.0 % in Manitoba, the lowest vacancy rate in the provinces
- 1.1 % in Winnipeg, the second-lowest among all CMAs in Canada
- 0.0 % in Thompson
- 0.6 % in Brandon
- 1.0 % in Portage la Prairie
Source: (5)
Winnipeg’s Rental Universe
(This data only applies to apartment buildings with three or more units)
The rental universe in Winnipeg (6)
- has declined in 15 of the past 18 years.
- Lost 835 rental units, of which at least 450 units were permanently removed from the rental universe, between October 2009 and October 2010 (leaving 52,319 units).
Since 1992, Winnipeg’s rental universe has declined from 57,279 units to 52,319 in 2010, a decline of about 9 percent (7). At the same time, the population of Winnipeg has increased from 677,000 to 753,600, an increase of about 11 percent (8).
- The result is a drop in the number of rental units per 100 people from 8.5 units to 6.9.
Rents
In October 2011, the average rent was (9)
- 744 $ in Manitoba (compared with 711 $ in October 2010)
- 754 $ in Winnipeg (compared with 719 $ in October 2010)
- 683 $ in Thompson (compared with 668 $ in April 2010)
In 2011, the Median Market Rent in Manitoba was: (10)
Affordability of Average Rents in Winnipeg (11 and 12)
EIA and Rent in Winnipeg (13 and 14)
Demographics
Migration
In 2010, 15,803 international migrants came to Manitoba, and 12,340 immigrants moved to Winnipeg. (15)
The population of Manitoba increased by 15,800 people from 2009-2010 (from 1,219,600 to 1,235,400). (16)
The population of Winnipeg increased by 9,700 people from 2009-2010 (from 674,400 to 684,100). (17)
Social Housing
Manitoba Housing “owns the Province’s housing portfolio and provides subsidies to approximately 34,900 households under various housing programs. Within the portfolio, Manitoba Housing owns 17,600 units of which 13,100 units are directly managed by Manitoba Housing and another 4,500 units are operated by non- profit/cooperative sponsor groups or property management agencies. Manitoba Housing also provides subsidy and support to approximately 17,300 households (including 4,700 personal care home beds) operated by cooperatives, Urban Native and private non-profit groups.” (18)
National Social Housing Construction
In 1993, the federal government withdrew from housing. Until then, about 10 percent of the housing built each year in Canada was affordable to lower income households; since then it has been less than one percent.
Sources
(1) CMHC 2011, Canadian Housing Observer.
(2) CMHC 2006, Canadian Housing Observer. Also offers data on types of family, Aboriginal status, and period of immigration
(3) City of Winnipeg 2006. 2006 Census Data – City of Winnipeg.
(4) CMHC 2011, Fall. Rental Market Report: Manitoba Highlights.
(5) CMHC 2011, Fall. Rental Market Report: Winnipeg CMA.
(6) CMHC 2011. Rental Market Report: Manitoba Highlights.
(7) CMHC 2011. Personal communication from Dianne Himbeault, CMHC.
(8) City of Winnipeg. 2011. Population of Winnipeg.
(9) CMHC 2011, Fall. Rental Market Report: Manitoba Highlights.
(10) Government of Manitoba, date unknown. Housing Income Limits and Median Market Rent
(11) City of Winnipeg 2006. 2006 Census Data – City of Winnipeg.
(12) CMHC 2011, Fall. Rental Market Report: Winnipeg CMA.
(13) CMHC 2011, Fall. Rental Market Report: Winnipeg CMA.
(14) Employment and Income Assistance Facts. Government of Manitoba.
(15) Government of Manitoba. 2011. News and Resources.
(16) City of Winnipeg. 2011, May 1. Population of Winnipeg.
(17) City of Winnipeg. 2011, May 1. Population of Winnipeg.
(18) Manitoba Housing and Community Development. 2010. Annual Report 2009-2010.
(19) CMHC. 2011. CHS – Public Funds and National Housing Act (Social Housing).
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