UNICEF has released the report Measuring Child Poverty, Innocenti Report Card 10, 2012. It places Canada’s child poverty rate at 24 out of 35 “economically advanced” countries, behind countries such as Australia, New Zealand and United Kingdom.

For additional information on the report, please visit UNICEF website.

Here are some excerpts from media articles on the release of the report.

a new multilateral initiative that aims to secure concrete commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance

Harry Low shares his PowerPoint presentation (PDF format) highlighting resolves of the Open Government Partnership sessions held in Brazil.

by: Peggy Taillon, CCSD President & CEO

The following is an introductory excerpt from the report "Forging Two Solitudes: The Divisive Politics of Changing Old Age Security". The complete document is available for download (PDF).

Old Age… Security?

While addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland on January 26, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper signalled his government would bring forward “major transformations” to the country in the coming months — in areas such as the retirement income system, immigration, science and technology investment and the energy sector — while making a forceful case for pro-growth economic policies over entitlements.  Of those reforms, Harper suggested that getting a grip on rising costs associated with Canada’s pension programs the key priority.

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from thespec.com

Ottawa is shutting down public debate on issues it doesn’t care about

While the public bemoans raucous question periods in Parliament and hyperpartisan debate, a federal government plan for much more lasting damage to public debate is unfolding in Canada.

On April 25th, 2012, Scott Brison, Liberal MP for Kings-Hants (Nova Scotia) put forward a Private Members Bill on Income Inequality. The speech presented to parliament is available for download (PDF) or can be viewed on Mr Brison's YouTube channel.

from thestar.com

The recent federal budget launched a shot across the bows of Canadian registered charities to be careful about how they engage in political activities. The shot was not really a surprise as Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Natural Resources minister, Joe Oliver, had already aimed a few volleys at the sector in their promotion of the tar sands and the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal.