Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **Digital Resources

  • 2010 Trafficking of Human Beings

    Title:Trafficking in human beings: human rights and trans-national criminal law, developments in law and practices.
    Author(s):Touzenis, Kristina
    Subject:Immigration – general|split|Exploitation – sex trade
    Publisher:United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
    Place of Publication:Paris
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    Trafficking and smuggling are widely regarded as a criminal justice issue. They affect territorial integrity because they involve the facilitation of crossing of borders and remaining in a state in violation of national criminal and immigration laws. Trafficking and smuggling also undermine the rule of law and political foundation of states because traffickers and smugglers often resort to violence and corruption as a means to advance their business. The usual response at the national level has been crime control and immigration control in order to prosecute and punish traffickers/smugglers and reduce the flow of trafficked/smuggled people. But trafficking in human beings poses problems outside the scope of criminal law, including the issues of protection of victims and prevention of trafficking, which overlap with many human rights concerns.

    Language:English
    Series:UNESCO Migration Studies
     
    Material Type:Report

    G. LAW-CRIME/G.06 WOMEN/2010 trafficking_in_human_beings.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

  • 2010 Canadian Facts

    Title:Social determinants of health: the Canadian facts.
    Author(s):Mikkonen, Juha|split|Raphael, Dennis
    Subject:Health issues – general
    Publisher:The Canadian Facts
    Place of Publication:Toronto
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    The primary factors that shape the health of Canadians are not medical treatments or lifestyle choices but rather the living conditions they experience. These conditions have come to be known as the social determinants of health. This information – based on decades of research and hundreds of studies in Canada and elsewhere – is unfamiliar to most Canadians. Canadians are largely unaware that our health is shaped by how income and wealth is distributed, whether or not we are employed and if so, the working conditions we experience.
    Our health is also determined by the health and social services we receive, and our ability to obtain quality education, food and housing, among other factors. And contrary to the assumption that Canadians have personal control over these factors, in most cases these living conditions are – for better or worse – imposed upon us by the quality of the communities, housing situations, work settings, health and social service agencies, and educational institutions with which we interact.
    The publication outlines why they are important; how Canada is doing in addressing them; and what can be done to improve their quality. The purpose of the document is to provide promote greater awareness of the social determinants of health and the development and implementation of public policies that improve their quality.

    Language:English
     Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.02 HEALTH/2010 canadian_facts.pdf

  • 2010 OCED Disability

    Title:Sickness, disability and work: breaking the barriers : Canada : opportunities for collaboration.
    Corporate Author: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
    Subject:Disabilities – physical, mental – general|split|Health issues – general|split|Employment – general
    Publisher:Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
    Place of Publication:Paris
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    Canada, like other OECD nations, is working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its policies for persons affected by sickness and disability. The employment picture for these persons is poor and as in other countries, this is associated with a heightened risk of being in or close to poverty and dependent on disability and other social welfare payments. The fall in labour demand since the start of the current economic downturn is especially concerning for such persons because they were already having difficulty finding work in the earlier part of this decade when the Canadian economy was growing strongly. A review of the Canadian system indicates that many of its employment and other social supports and benefits for persons with disabilities are restrictive and complex, and therefore difficult to access. Policy makers must overcome a number of systemic problems that underpin the outcomes in Canada.

    Language:English
     Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.03 DISABILITIES/2010 OECD_disability.pdf

  • 2010 Settlement of Newcomers

    Title:Settlement of Newcomers to Canada
    Corporate Author: Canadian Association of Social Workers
    Citation:Canadian Social Work Vol 12 (1) Fall 2010
    Subject:Immigration – resettlement
    Publisher:Canadian Association of Social Workers
    Place of Publication:Ottawa
    Date of Publication:2010
    Abstract:

    The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is pleased to publish a special issue on policy and settlement practice with immigrants and refugees in the Canadian Social Work (CSW) journal.
    This collection of articles will raise awareness—within the social work profession, contribute to knowledge and skills for practice, and promote the roles and functions of social work among the policy makers and practitioners in the field of immigrant and refugee settlement.

    Language:English
     Material Type:Journal

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F06 IMMIGRATION/2010 settlement_of_newcomers.pdf