Appointed: A Canadian Senator Bringing Margins to the Centre

On this episode of Appointed we're discussing the novel Coronavirus pandemic and its varied effects on each of us. Far from The Great Equalizer, COVID-19 is instead magnifying existing societal inequities. We speak with former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Louise Arbour, author and activist Robyn Maynard and epidemiologist Dr. Aaron Orkin about crucial measures we must take now and after this crisis to advocate for and fortify long term equity.

Read Senator Pate's statement on COVID 19 Measures in Federal Prisons here
Read an Op-Ed Senator Pate and Jane Philpott wrote about COVID-19 in prisons here
Read an Op-Ed Senator Pate and Pam Palmater wrote urging the Public Safety Minister to act here
Read this Tyee article where Senator Pate is quoted urging the Public Safety Minister to release prisoners now to avoid disaster

Buy a copy of Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to Present here

Learn how you can help advocate for the release of immigration detainees here

On this mini episode of Appointed, we continue our discussion on guaranteed livable income with the Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. Mr. Yussuff speaks about the importance of social programs for workers; his role as President of the Canadian Labour Congress; the intersection of workers’ issues and social assistance programs; and the role he believes a guaranteed livable income could play in the lives of workers, the Canadian labour movement, and improving overall quality of life for Canadians.

Hassan Yussuff is the President of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the largest labour organization in Canada. CLC brings together unions , provincial and territorial federations of labour, and community-based labour councils to represent workers across the country. First elected as President of the CLC in May 2014, Mr. Yussuff is the first person of colour to lead Canada’s union movement. Re-elected for a second term in May 2017, Mr. Yussuff is a long-time advocate for worker’s rights, improved working conditions, childcare and family investment, and repairing Canada’s social, health and economic safety net.

Stay tuned for the next episode in the Guaranteed Livable Income series!

Resources mentioned during the show and further reading:

Read Senator Pate’s Guaranteed Livable Income perspective document here

https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10143187-advocates-welcome-ei-changes-but-say-they-should-be-made-permanent/

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/06/02/there-is-no-economic-recovery-without-adequate-child-care.html

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-covid-19-has-exposed-wide-gaps-in-canadas-social-safety-net/

More information about this episode's guest, Sheila Regehr (as seen here, on Basic Income Canada Network): Sheila is a founding member of the Basic Income Canada Network and former Executive Director of the National Council of Welfare. Her 29 years of federal public service spanned front-line work, policy analysis and development, international relations and senior management, with a focus on improving fairness and equality, and on gender and race in particular. She has policy expertise in areas of income security and taxation, such as child tax benefits, child support, maternity/parental benefits, pensions and social assistance. Her insight also comes from experiencing poverty as a young parent. Sheila is grateful, in her retirement, to have resources, time and health to do volunteer work and help care for twin grandsons.

Click here to access the website of Basic Income Now, a campaign coordinated by Canada's leading Basic Income organizations and allies (including Basic Income Canada Network).

For more information on Guaranteed Livable Income:

Click here to access the Perspectives document on Guaranteed Livable Income by Senator Pate.

Resources and cases mentioned during the episode:

Click here to access a CBC news article entitled "Nearly $2 million spent on clearing encampments should have gone to housing, advocates say" by Muriel Draaisma, related to the cost of the expulsion of "tent cities" in Toronto, discussed at the 3:00 minute mark.

Click here to access the brief document summarizing policy options suggested by Basic Income Canada Network, discussed at the 11:54 minute mark.

On this episode of Appointed, Senator Kim Pate speaks with Ottawa City Councillors, Theresa Kavanagh and Marty Carr. This fabulous duo successfully presented a motion on July 10, 2024, supporting a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income. They were inspired by the Ottawa Board of Health June 17, 2024 resolution supporting a Basic Income Guarantee for all people over the age of 17 as a means of addressing poverty, the number one social determinant of ill health.

Kim and the Councillors discuss the importance of a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, the potential it has to support safety, autonomy, the social determinants of health, and other inequities faced by Ottawa citizens and Canadians more broadly.

Councillor Carr represents the area of Alta Vista, and Councillor Kavanagh is the councillor for the By Ward region of Ottawa.

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Senator Pate’s Guaranteed Livable Basic Income Fact Sheets can be read here

City Council Motion to Support a Guaranteed Basic Income for Canadians available here & here

Ottawa City Council Backs Basic Income can be watched here

Bill S-233, An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income can be read here

An Op-Ed by Councillor Marty Carr can be found here

On this episode of Appointed, Bonnie Brayton, the National Director of Disabled Women’s Network (DAWN) Canada, and Kim discuss the intersection of disability and inequality, with particular focus on poverty, housing, sexism, racism, unpaid caregiving in Canada, and guaranteed livable income. They identify the need for changes to C-7 (MAiD) medical assistance in dying for disabled folks and the meaning of “choice” in this context; and the actions the government must take to adequately address issues facing disabled communities. Kim and Ms Brayton also discuss the role a guaranteed livable income, coupled with comprehensive social services and assistance programs, could play in addressing systemic ableism in Canada.

Bonnie Brayton is the National Executive Director of DAWN Canada and is a recognized leader in both the disability and feminist movements. Ms Brayton has been with DAWN since May 2007 and is a vocal and recognizable advocate for women with disabilities in Canada and internationally. Ms Brayton works diligently to call attention to issues impacting the lives of women with disabilities in Canada, such as housing, employment, health equity, and violence.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Appointed!

Resources mentioned during the show and further reading:

Learn more about DAWN Canada here

Read Senator Pate’s perspective on guaranteed livable income here

The Supreme Court Case of Her Majesty the Queen v. Thomas Slatter (November 6th, 2020)

"Extending the scope of assisted dying is wrong" by Isabel Grant in Policy Options