Homelessness has recently been much in the news, because of the tragic deaths of three homeless people in Winnipeg and also because of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association’s National Congress on Housing and Homelessness, held recently in Winnipeg. Canada is one of the very few advanced industrialized countries in the world that does not have a national housing strategy, and for low-income people in particular the consequences are severe, and sometimes deadly.
It is unfortunate that the sitting government has to waste valuable political capital maneuvering around obstructionist balanced budget legislation (BBL), but the media and opposition continue to place recent budget analyses in its distorting frame. Contrary to established economic theory and practice, BBL always equates balanced budgets with prudent fiscal practice. But just as no household would forgo taking out a mortgage to buy a home, no government should shy away from running responsible deficits when strategic investment will lead to improved physical and social infrastructure that will allow our economy to grow.
Finance Minister Joe Oliver had a chance Tuesday to prove the Harper government’s economic prowess. The budget he delivered, however, failed miserably to do that.
On April 16th, 2014, a fire broke out in a rooming house on Enfield Crescent in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood. The fire resulted in the death of an elderly man and injuries to several other residents of the building. This tragic event served as somber precursor to the release of the May 2014 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives- Manitoba, Rooming Houses to Rooming Homes. With the release of this report, a community forum was held and drew an audience of over 100, including community members, community agency staff, rooming house tenants, City and Provincial employees, and others. The community forum started an important and long-overdue dialogue about the many complicated issues surrounding Winnipeg rooming houses.
By Kirsten Bernas and Shauna MacKinnon
There is a growing opportunity in Manitoba to bridge the economic and social divide between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. First of all, Manitoba employers are looking for skilled workers. Second of all, our large and young Aboriginal population continues to increase at a faster rate than the non-Aboriginal population.
By Sarah Zell and Diwa Marcelino
As part of an ongoing overhaul of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) the federal government imposed what is referred to as the “four and four” rule, the results of which will begin to impact newcomers this April 1st.
The regulation limits the length of time temporary workers may work in Canada to four years. In the past, employees with work permits about to expire could apply for renewal. That is no longer the case. Under the new rule, migrant workers in low-wage jobs and Live-in Caregivers must leave the country as early as April 1, 2015, and are then barred from returning to work in Canada for another four years.
Alicia and Rachelle Dunsford with their AAA Junior Varsity Championship banner. They are now at the Collegiate.
Young people from inner city Winnipeg made their neighbourhood proud on Monday night. Six youth who grew up playing basketball at the Spence Neighbourhood Association brought home championship banners!
Are wages in Canada stagnant or growing? The short answer is another question: do you live in an oil boom province? There’s a fairly common meme that Canadian wages are no longer stagnating, as opposed to US wages. Indeed, in Canada, overall wage growth has picked up since the last crisis. Read more…
When the Government of Canada decided to cancel the long form cencus for 2011 and replace it with the voluntary National Household Survey (NHS) many expressed concern NHS data would be less reliable and vulnerable populations would be less likely to participate. These concerns have proven to be correct. Read more…
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba office (CCPA–MB) is an independent, non-partisan research institute concerned with issues of social, economic and environmental justice. Founded in 1980, the CCPA is one of Canada’s leading progressive voices in public policy debates. CCPA has a national office in Ottawa, and provincial offices in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Nova Scotia, as well as Manitoba.
The CCPA MB is a partner with a broad range of community organizations on the Winnipeg Street Census. We are seeking a researcher to write a short summary of the literature on the root causes of Aboriginal homelessness in Winnipeg. This paper will be included in the Winnipeg Street Census 2015 final report.
Outputs and timelines
The expected output is twofold: a 1,500 word high-level summary of the literature on the root causes of Aboriginal homelessness in Winnipeg and a 750 – 1,000 word summary of local Aboriginal community action/responses to homelessness.
A draft is required by May 31, 2015 with a final draft by June 30, 2015.
Responsibilities
- Undertake a brief literature review summarizing research on the root causes of Aboriginal homelessness in Winnipeg. Draft a companion document that summarizes current local Aboriginal community responses to homelessness.
- Meeting with CCPA MB staff and partners from the Winnipeg Street Census, including Aboriginal organizations, to scope out the project and gather information.
- Create a draft for review and incorporate feedback for final draft.
Qualifications and Skills
- Excellent research, writing and communication skills
- Experience conducting literature reviews
- Dedication to research and advocacy toward social and economic justice with expertise in issues facing Indigenous people, homelessness and housing
- Aboriginal ancestry an asset
- Knowledge of Aboriginal traditions and culture an asset
- Undergraduate degree in social sciences preferred
Compensation
A stipend of $1,500 inclusive of GST.
Please submit a cover letter, CV/ résumé and writing sample by March 23rd, 2015 to Molly McCracken, Director, ccpamb@policyalternatives.ca
Thank you to all who apply; only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted.
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