Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **Resources: Social Issues:

  • 2011 Day Care Controversy

     

    Title:Alberta’s day care controversy: from 1908 to 2009 — and beyond.
    Author(s):Langford, Tom
    Subject:Child care – Alberta|split|Children – child welfare system|split|Children – foster care, adoption 
    Place of Publication:Edmonton
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    Book by Dr. Tom Langford traces the development of child care policies and programs in Alberta. Chapters discuss history of Alberta child care, the emergence of corporatized chains and issues for the future. Full book available online.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Book

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.08 CHILD CARE/2011 day_care_controversy.pdf

  • 2011 Alberta Immigration Progress

    Title:Alberta immigration progress report 2011
    Corporate Author: Government of Alberta
    Subject:Immigration – general
    Publisher:Government of Alberta
    Place of Publication:Edmonton
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    In October 2005, the Alberta government announced Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta (SIIA), an immigration policy for the province. The policy outlines a strategic framework for a more co-ordinated approach across ministries to address the needs of Alberta’s immigrant population.
    Alberta’s approach to immigration addresses the attraction and retention of immigrants. The GoA recognizes progress in both areas is essential to realize the vision for immigration outlined in SIIA:
    In meeting the goals of SIIA, activities are being pursued across four strategic directions: (1) Welcoming communities, (2) Attracting immigrants to Alberta, (3) Living in Alberta, (4) Working in Alberta.
    This report highlights key achievements and progress under the four strategic directions from the time of SIIA’s implementation in October 2005 to December 2010. The report also highlights recent achievements and progress on TFW matters.

    Language:English
     Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F06 IMMIGRATION/2011 alberta_immigration_progress_2011.pdf

  • 2011 Addressing the Needs of

     

    Title:Addressing the needs of Albertans with disabilities in home, supportive and long-term care living settings
    Corporate Author: Alberta Disabilities Forum
    Subject:Disabilities – physical, mental – planning, policy|split|Disabilities – physical, mental – programs, services
    Publisher:Alberta Disabilities Forum
    Place of Publication:Edmonton
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    This series of position papers identifies problems that people with disabilities in Alberta face in the continuing care system. It also proposes solutions to these problems.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.03 DISABILITIES/2011 Addressing-the-needs-of.pdf

  • 2010 Welfare Income 2009

    Title:Welfare incomes 2009
    Corporate Author: National Council of Welfare
    Subject:Income security programs – general
    Publisher:National Council of Welfare
    Place of Publication:Ottawa
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    Welfare Incomes 2009 estimates total welfare incomes (social assistance plus child benefits and tax credits) for 4 family/household types in each of the 13 provinces and territories for a total of 52 cases (some information on Alberta’s separate program for people with severe disabilities is also provided). The four family types are: A single person considered employable; A single person with a disability; A lone parent with a 2-year-old child; A couple with two children aged 10 and 15. The NCW has published similar estimates since 1986.

    Language:English
     Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.05 INCOME/2010 welfare_incomes_2009.pdf

  • 2010 Time for Action

    Title:Time for action: working together to end poverty in Alberta.
    Author(s):Kolkman, John|split|Ahorro, Joseph|split|Varlen, Kory|split|Moore-Kilgannon, Bill K
    Corporate Author: Edmonton Social Planning Council
    Public Interest Alberta
    Subject:Poverty – general
    Publisher:Edmonton Social Planning Council
    Place of Publication:Edmonton
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council and Public Interest Alberta released a new report that shows 53,000 Alberta children lived below Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off (after-tax) in 2008, and that number is probably higher today due to the effects of the recession on our economy. “It is just plain wrong that in one of the wealthiest parts of the world we have so many children that are struggling in poverty,” said Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta. “Other provinces with fewer resources are working together with their communities to come up with many different solutions, timelines and real achievable targets to address this situation. Certainly it is ‘Time for Action’ here in Alberta as well.” “The report clearly shows that we need to do much more than wait for the economy to rebound,” says John Kolkman, Research Coordinator for the Edmonton Social Planning Council. “The majority of children living in poverty (53.8%) lived in families where the combined work activity equalled full-time for the full year.” “The good news is that a number of government programs do make a real difference. Government transfer programs lifted 36% of children above the low-income cut off in 2008 (up from 25% in 1989),” says Kolkman. “The bad news is that many important programs are being cut or scaled back and we see increasing social assistance case loads, up 45% from two years earlier (October 2010 statistic). Alberta food bank use in 2010 is at a 12 year high.” “We are very pleased to see a growing number of people who want to see Alberta adopt a strategy to reduce, prevent and eliminate poverty in Alberta,” says Bill Moore-Kilgannon. “Many municipal, business and community leaders strongly support the unanimous recommendation of the Standing Committee on the Economy to establish a designed-in-Alberta poverty reduction strategy.

    Language:English
     Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.04 POVERTY/2010 time_for_action.pdf

  • 2010 Social Rate or Return

    Title:The social rate of return to investing in character: an economic evaluation of Alberta’s immigrant access fund micro loan program.
    Author(s):Emery, J.C. Herbert|split|Ferrer, Ana
    Corporate Author: University of Calgary. Department of Economics
    Subject:Education – adult|split|Immigration – employment, foreign qualifications|split|Immigration – programs, services
    Publisher:Immigrant Access Fund Society of Alberta
    University of Calgary. Department of Economics
    Place of Publication:Calgary
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    Skilled immigrants have been identified as a key source of labour supply for addressing the expected labour market shortages in Canada arising from an aging population and strong economic growth (Emery 2006; IAF March 31, 2009). However, the integration of immigrants into the workforce often requires that they have the necessary accreditation to work at their chosen occupation in the Canadian labour market. Credential recognition has proven to be a significant labour market barrier for skilled immigrants in Canada as evidenced by the high rates of underemployment of this group. To address the underemployment of skilled immigrants in Alberta, the Immigrant Access Fund (IAF) provides small loans on a not for profit basis to assist immigrants in acquiring the Canadian accreditation and training they need to work in their field of expertise. These loans assist skilled immigrants in moving from low-income “survival” jobs to jobs that better utilize their valuable knowledge and skills. Although anecdotal evidence suggests that the IAF program has produced successes, there is no analytical evidence as to the overall economic value of the program. Our assessment of the social return to the IAF loan program demonstrates that this is a very high return social program with annual real rates of return of 33% or more.[Taken from Abstract]

    Notes:Prepared for the Immigrant Access Fund Society of Alberta with funding from Alberta Employment and Immigration and The Calgary Foundation.
    Language:English
     Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.01 GENERAL/2010 Social-Rate-of-Return.pdf