Blog: Notes from the Field

Black Lives Matter: A Reading, Watching, Listening List Part 2

We have a responsibility to educate ourselves to the realities, obstacles and resistance of Black communities and other marginalized communities.  To help create a new “normal” in which we no longer participate in, and benefit from, the oppression of Black people, it requires us to engage in a process of self-examination, education, and unlearning. This reading, watching and listening list provides many resources to help educate people about the history of racism, how it still persists today, and gives insights to the experiences of many people who experience racism and discrimination.

Read more... about "Black Lives Matter: A Reading, Watching, Listening List Part 2"

Engaging with the Black Lives Matter Movement

Minority groups, such as African Americans, Latin Americans, and Indigenous people, have experienced disproportionate rates of incarceration, police brutality, discrimination and more. The Black Lives Matter movement speaks out against the police brutality and systemic racism that leads to the victimization, harm, and often death against Black people all over the world, as seen with George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor currently.

Read more... about "Engaging with the Black Lives Matter Movement"

Not all Parents Benefit from Canada’s Parental Leave Program

TVO's current affairs blog recently addressed the disparities in income support for new parents in Canada. As the blog notes, historically Canada has compared favourably to "its OECD peers when it comes to parental leave," and in December 2017, the Canadian government further expanded its parental leave program. The new policy extends benefits from 12 months of partially paid leave to 18. The amount of the benefit remains unchanged, but what has changed is that parents can now stretch the same amount over 18 months.

Read more... about "Not all Parents Benefit from Canada’s Parental Leave Program"