Five-year study will look at why some can’t afford to put food on the table
By CLARE MELLOR Staff Reporter, The Chronicle Herald
Thu. Mar 11, 2010
Studies show as many as 15 per cent of Nova Scotia households have a problem putting food on the table.
"We know . . . that some people do experience hunger," Patricia Williams, a professor at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, said Wednesday.
"Some people go without for many days at a time."

Announcing the launch of the Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research / Revue canadienne de recherche sur les OSBL et l’économie sociale, ANSERJ.

First Issue: Fall 2010

For more information, visit the website: www.anserj.ca

Ontario Newsroom- March 5, 2010

Ontario is raising the minimum wage to $10.25 on March 31, 2010.  This is the seventh increase since 2004.

The province of Ontario started implementing annual increases early in 2003, raising the general minimum wage from $6.85 in 2004 to $9.50 in 2009.
Phasing in these increases balances the needs of hard working families with the needs of small businesses that create jobs.

The Telegram- March 5, 2010

The provincial government announced today it will distribute $247,000 to seven community-based organizations under the Provincial Wellness Plan.
According to a news release, the funding supports projects designed to address food security issues. The grants are in addition to the Provincial Wellness Grants, which will be awarded in the coming weeks.

New co-op cinema gives front-row view of Canadian
efforts to beat global poverty

Ottawa March 1, 2010  ̶̶  Canadians have a new way to experience the fight to end
global poverty thanks to a virtual movie theatre recently unveiled by the Canadian
Co-operative Association (CCA) on its website.

"On any given day, Canadians are working in remote corners of the globe to help
credit union and co-operative leaders move their communities out of poverty," said
CCA media relations manager David Shanks. "We created the CCA Cineplex to give

By Ken Battle, Sheri Torjman and Michael Mendelson in the Globe and Mail.

Welfare is the tangled safety net that doesn't work. It is a complicated system that is difficult to understand and administer. While many people use it only once and get back on their feet, some languish on that program for years. Far from an exit from poverty, welfare has become a social and economic ghetto that creates incentives for dependence and disincentives for independence.

The provincial government and the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council kicked-off a new partnership today (Feb. 24) that will connect unemployed or under-employed Nova Scotians with jobs that meet today's labour market needs.

Premier Darrell Dexter and Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse launched the Target 100 employment program. Mountain Equipment Co-op, a member of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council, hosted the event, which was broadcast live via a government webcast.

By Stephen Llewellyn, The Daily Gleaner

The Liberal government has taken another step towards its goal of lifting 25,000 New Brunswickers out of poverty over the next five years, says Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock.

Lamrock introduced the Economic and Social Inclusion Act on Friday to create the legislative framework to implement the government's plan to overcome poverty.

By Allison Vail - Ladysmith Chronicle

Ladysmith is considering adopting a food charter.
Members of the Cowichan Green Community visited Ladysmith’s government services committee meeting on Feb. 15 to talk about the Cowichan Food Charter, a document that outlines the future of food and food security in the CVRD.
“We are an environmental organization said Judy Stafford during a presentation.
The organization has been involved in building community gardens and is mapping food production in the Cowichan Valley.

By Fred Davies- Parksville Qualicum Beach News

For the complete article click here.

The heart of local food security starts with having a collection of seed that people can save and grow year after year.