Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: ESPC Announcements

  • United Way 2021 Campaign

    United Way 2021 Campaign

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    Edmonton Social Planning Council’s

    2021 United Way Campaign

    Poverty is the most debilitating social issue we are dealing with today. It strips people of self-esteem, robs children of their true potential, and causes families to lose hope. It can take many forms, and there are numerous ways that someone can find themselves locked into poverty due to job loss, domestic violence, or a lack of mental health support. It is #unignorable because it holds our community back from reaching its full potential.

    United Way brings together partners and strategies to deliver local programs and services aimed at addressing the root causes of poverty. It continues to address the need of the most vulnerable in our community and is leading local efforts to respond to both urgent and long-term needs. More than ever, people need supports to stay afloat. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how truly important it is to take action against the #unignorable issue of poverty.

    Local People Doing Local Good

    Do local good in these challenging times—donate today! United, we can overcome the challenges that our community currently faces and respond to the #unignorable issue of poverty, to make a tremendous impact on the lives of local people who are struggling.

    All donations strengthen our community, helping fund over 100 programs right here in the Alberta Capital Region.

    Normally, ESPC would host an annual bake sale for neighbours and supporters to make a donation in exchange for tasty homemade treats, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to adjust plans.

    This year, ESPC will be holding a Bottle Drive to fundraise for the United Way and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the United Way!

    We invite you to take your empty bottles and cans to the nearest Bottle Depot and donate the cash refunds to our campaign.

    Please contact info@edmontonsocialplanning.ca for more information if you’d like to participate or donate!

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  • Executive Director Susan Morrissey’s Presentation to Edmonton City Council on the State of Immigration and Settlement’s Annual Report

    Executive Director Susan Morrissey’s Presentation to Edmonton City Council on the State of Immigration and Settlement’s Annual Report

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    On August 25, 2021, our Executive Director Susan Morrissey had the opportunity to present to Edmonton City Council’s Community and Public Services Committee to speak about the State of Immigration and Settlement’s 2021 Annual Report, which is titled Belonging: Stories of the Dignity and Resilience of Immigrants.

    Susan spoke about the importance of rigorous data collection in order to inform better decision-making.

    You can watch her presentation on City Council’s YouTube channel. Her remarks begin at the 40-minute mark.

    The written text of her speech can also be read below.

    “Thank you for the opportunity to speak today on the State of Immigration and Settlement report. 

    I am honoured to be a member of the Advisory Committee working on this project which started in 2019.

    I am also the Executive Director of the Edmonton Social Planning Council which is a social research and analysis organization with over 80 years of deep roots in Edmonton.

    EPSC’s role is to encourage the adoption of equitable social policy, support the work of other organizations striving to improve people’s lives in our community and educate the public about social issues that impact us all.

    I have decided to deviate from discussing data as it relates to the many systemic issues that create barriers to newcomers in our community. The report does a great job in using stories of how some individuals and families are not being afforded the same opportunities for a good life.

    On a personal level, my grandparents immigrated to Canada in the early 1890s from their homeland of the Ukraine. With the promise of a better life, through hard work they set out to build their home, literally, work their farmland, and eventually raise their nine children. 

    Times were very tough, and they built their home from scratch with neighbours helping neighbours.

    Fast forward to the present. The newcomers we see coming to our community often out of choice, but not always are coming for the same reasons – the aspiration of a better life for themselves and their families. Our report describes the roadblocks and obstacles that stand in their way of being fully valued, actively contributing members of our community: of feeling a sense of belonging. 

    Collecting and using accurately representative race-based data will lead us to better decision making and effective priorities and policies. We see a role for the City of Edmonton to champion and support the collection and sharing of both quantitative and qualitative local data in partnership with the immigrant community.

    I understand that the City has announced the end to our local census, last one taking place in 2019. I find this very troubling news because using national census data does not allow for a real-time snapshot of our local community, of our growing newcomer community.

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council has made it a priority to look at new approaches to address the gap of understanding when it comes to data especially as it relates to newcomers. Through recent blog posts, our quarterly newsletter that focused an entire edition to Race and Equity, and a special report entitled Confronting Racism with Data: Why Canada Needs Disaggregated Race-Based Data, we are working to reinforce the message that accurate race-based data needs to be collected to make informed policy.

    To quote a paragraph from our report:

    ‘History has shown that race-based data can be used to uphold racist systems and discriminatory practices; but data can also help to dismantle them. Currently, race-based data is collected in only a few key systems, and data collection strategies are woefully inadequate for current needs (in areas such as health, justice, and education). The limited data that is available does not provide adequate evidence to support targeted policy change and intervention. Race-based data is crucial to develop effective anti-racism frameworks, and to understand the diverse, intersectional, needs of racialized communities in Canada.’

    I commend the City of Edmonton for having the foresight to direct City Administration to provide an annual report on Settlements and Immigration. I respectfully encourage the committee to receive this report and presentation as the starting point to set in motion the policies, procedures, and practices to “open doors and create possibilities for people… to help them to realize their potential.”

    I believe it is in everyone’s best interest to find ways to work with the immigrant community so that everyone thrives.

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  • Statement on the Discovery of a Mass Gravesite of 215 Children Buried at a Former Residential School

    Statement on the Discovery of a Mass Gravesite of 215 Children Buried at a Former Residential School

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    The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) is deeply saddened by the recent discovery made by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation of a mass gravesite of 215 children buried on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia. It is a painful reminder of the widespread harms perpetuated by Canada’s ongoing colonial practices towards the Indigenous peoples of this land.

     As upsetting as this news is, unfortunately it is not surprising in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report that stated the official count of children who have died in the residential school system has been underreported. Undoubtedly, the gravesite in Kamloops will likely be one among multiple other yet to be uncovered sites throughout Canada, including here in Alberta.

     ESPC remains committed to continuing our contributions in meaningful reconciliation work with Indigenous communities in Edmonton and beyond.

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  • Media Release: New provincial rental assistance programs brings much-needed relief to Edmonton renters

    Media Release: New provincial rental assistance programs brings much-needed relief to Edmonton renters

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.7.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” custom_margin=”||3px|||” border_color_bottom=”#a6c942″][/et_pb_post_title][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/COLOUR-BLOCKS_spaced-300×51.png” title_text=”COLOUR BLOCKS_spaced” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” max_height=”75px” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”10px|0px|20px|0px|false|false” global_module=”96648″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px|auto|0px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”30px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.5″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#2b303a” custom_padding=”||32px|||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9kYXRlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJkYXRlX2Zvcm1hdCI6ImRlZmF1bHQiLCJjdXN0b21fZGF0ZV9mb3JtYXQiOiIifX0=@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https://edmontonsocialplanning.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Statement-on-Provincial-Rent-Assistance-ESPC-Letterhead.pdf” button_text=”Download the Media Release (PDF)” _builder_version=”4.9.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#008ac1″ custom_margin=”||19px|||” custom_padding=”||5px|||”][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.2″ text_text_color=”#2b303a” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#008ac1″ header_2_font_size=”24px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]For Immediate Release

    EDMONTON – The Edmonton Social Planning Council is encouraged by the Government of Alberta’s announcement of two new rental assistance programs, the Rent Assistance Benefit and the Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit, which will be open for applications on April 1st and May 1st, respectively.

    Our agency has identified the challenges facing renters in Edmonton as an intractable problem for more than a decade. Our 2020 report, The High Cost of Waiting: Tenant-Focused Solutions to Enhance Housing Affordability, summarizes many of these challenges through a literature review, interviews with key informants, and most crucially of all the lived experiences of renters forced to wait on the bottom of a years long wait list to receive support through rental assistance programs.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a lot of challenges, especially for those living in poverty and low-income and facing precarious housing. As of February 2020, nearly 10,000 people alone were on the Capital Region Housing wait list to receive rent assistance. These benefits have the potential to greatly reduce that wait list, especially the Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit.

    This particular benefit is only expected to last two years, but it still has the potential to help renters improve their situation, especially as we work towards recovering from this unprecedented pandemic. In addition, both benefits will go directly to the tenant instead of the landlord (which is how the Private Landlord Rent Supplement program, now closed for new applications, is designed). This was identified as a key ask from focus group participants who contributed to our High Cost of Waiting report.

    While more permanent and sustainable solutions will need to be implemented—namely a federal-provincial agreement as outlined in the proposed Canada Housing Benefit—this measure will bring about some much-needed relief for renters in Alberta.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Brett Lambert, Community Engagement Coordinator
    E-mail: BrettL@edmontonsocialplanning.ca[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.7.4″ custom_padding=”0px|20px|0px|20px|false|false” border_color_left=”#a6c942″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Posted by:” job_title=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3IiLCJzZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJiZWZvcmUiOiIiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsIm5hbWVfZm9ybWF0IjoiZGlzcGxheV9uYW1lIiwibGluayI6Im9uIiwibGlua19kZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6ImF1dGhvcl93ZWJzaXRlIn19@” portrait_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9hdXRob3JfcHJvZmlsZV9waWN0dXJlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnt9fQ==@” quote_icon=”off” portrait_width=”125px” portrait_height=”125px” disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _dynamic_attributes=”job_title,portrait_url” _module_preset=”default” body_text_color=”#000000″ author_font=”||||||||” author_text_align=”center” author_text_color=”#008ac1″ position_font=”||||||||” position_text_color=”#000000″ company_text_color=”#000000″ background_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|4px|0px|false|false” custom_padding=”32px|0px|0px|0px|false|false”][/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.65)” header_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||50px|||” custom_padding=”48px|||||”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9jYXRlZ29yaWVzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiUmVsYXRlZCBjYXRlZ29yaWVzOiAgIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6ImNhdGVnb3J5In19@[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

  • Call for Nominations: Award of Merit 2021

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    Award of Merit for Advocacy of Social Justice

    The Edmonton Social Planning Council (ESPC) is an organization committed to undertaking social research for the benefit of the entire community. We recognize many individuals and groups in our community also work tirelessly to advocate for programs in parallel to the ESPC vision of a just and inclusive community. The ESPC’s annual Award of Merit recognizes an individual, or group, we believe has demonstrated a dedication and achievement in the pursuit of social policies for the benefit of Edmontonians, particularly those who are the most vulnerable.

    Criteria

    The ESPC’s Award of Merit for Advocacy of Social Justice honours forward-looking and courageous individuals and groups who have not turned away from controversy in an effort to seek social justice for either a defined community group or for the community as a whole. The following broad criteria must be met:

    1. There is a clear impact on the community directly attributed to the work of the nominated individual or group.
    2. The work of this individual or group is either ongoing or was conducted for a considerable period of time (not a one-time event or short-term volunteer activity).

    Nominations

    Notice of this award will be on the ESPC website annually and will be advertised on social media, at least one month prior to the deadline. ESPC members, ESPC Board members, and the general public are all eligible to make nominations.

    A nominating committee made up of ESPC Board members will adjudicate nominations. If multiple nominees meet the criteria, the committee will decide which nominee(s) will receive the Award.

    Deadline

    Nominations will be received until Sunday, April 25, 2021, for consideration by the committee. The Award of Merit for Advocacy of Social Justice is presented at the ESPC Annual General Meeting each year.

    This year the meeting will be held virtually on May 27th, 2021.

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  • fACT Sheet — 2021 Alberta Provincial Budget

    fACT Sheet — 2021 Alberta Provincial Budget

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    Introduction

    The 2021–22 Budget, titled Protecting Lives and Livelihoods, covers the time period April 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022. This is the third budget of the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) as they enter the halfway point of their term. It is also the first budget that addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, which has upended the lives and livelihoods of Albertans as a result of the economic fallout and health impacts related to the virus.

    The focus of the budget is supporting Albertans to get through the pandemic and working towards a long-term economic recovery. Targets include investments in health care, infrastructure, and economic diversification. 

    That said, Budget 2021 still advertises low taxation as an advantage and announces no new tax increases. If Alberta had the same tax structure as the next lowest taxed provinces (Ontario and Saskatchewan), we would generate an additional $13.3 billion in revenue (2021–22).* Under-spending as a result of less revenue collected means fewer investments in public services that support Albertans.

    This fACT Sheet will focus on developments related to social programs that impact those living in low-income and poverty.

    Revenue Measures

    The previous budget, released in February 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic reached Alberta, projected $50 billion in revenue for 2020–21. However, revenue has now been projected to $42.3 billion—$7.7 billion lower than the previous estimate. This is due to a decrease in income and other taxes as well as a drop in non-renewable resource revenue. This is related to the significant economic impacts of COVID-19 and the collapse in oil demand, prices, and production. Cuts to the corporate tax rate, which decreased from 10% in January 2020 to 8% in July 2020 (a year-and-a-half sooner than originally planned) is also a factor. Notably, federal transfers from the Government of Canada are up as a source of revenue while almost all other sources are down.

    Due to these conditions and the fact that no new taxes will be introduced with Budget 2021, there will be a projected $18.2 billion deficit.

    Alberta Seniors Benefit

    The Alberta Seniors Benefit provides low-income Albertans aged 65 years or older financial assistance to help with monthly living expenses. Previously, there were plans to adjust benefit phase-out rates and eligibility thresholds for new applicants. This plan has been paused in order to maintain the same level of support for seniors through the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the maximum monthly benefit for a single adult is $285.92 and $428.83 for a couple.

    Child Benefits

    In the 2020–21 budget, the Alberta Child Benefit and the Alberta Family Employment Tax Credit were replaced by the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, which took effect in July 2020.
    Though not in the budget document itself, shortly before its release the province announced a Working Parents Benefit. Starting March 1, parents can apply for a one-time payment of $561 per child to help with child care while they continue to work.

    Child Care

    Funding for Children’s Services is expected to remain flat over the next four years, with an operating expense of $1.7 billion in 2021–22. The child care sector has faced many challenges due to COVID-19 with closure of facilities in March 2020, then their subsequent re-opening with new public health measures to protect staff and children. As a result, funding (including some federal supports) has been reallocated to facilitate the safe re-opening of these centres. This includes $23 million in a Critical Worker Benefit for child intervention and child care programming, as well as $28 million to assist child care centres in their re-opening efforts.

    The final phase of the Early Learning and Child Care pilot (also known as the $25 a day child care program) will end on March 31, 2021. Rather than continuing the program or making it universal, child care subsidies have been revamped so that low-income families will receive higher subsidies as part of a new funding deal between the province and the federal government.

    Affordable Housing and Homelessness

    The Government of Alberta recently released the Affordable Housing Review Panel’s report, which seeks to transform the affordable housing system. The Seniors and Housing ministry is currently developing a strategic plan and redesign of the affordable housing system. The reforms will ensure its financial sustainability and capacity to respond to growing demand. There will be no large budget changes until this redesign is completed.

    However, there is still money for existing affordable housing initiatives. The government is dedicated to building 1,800 units to house individuals, families, and seniors in need of social supports and housing and to maintain units that already exist. As a result of recommendations from the review, Budget 2021 will provide a $16 million reinstatement to the Rental Assistance Program. Rental supports are critical for struggling Albertans to pay their rents.

    The Government of Alberta stated they will continue to provide over $193 million for Homeless Support and Outreach Services. However, this is slightly down from the $197 million spent in the 201920 fiscal year. Nevertheless, they have included funding for 500 shelter spaces in Edmonton and Red Deer.

    Addictions and Mental Health

    The budget has committed $140 million over four years to increase access to services, expand programs, and establish new publicly funded mental health and addictions treatment spaces to support 4,000 Albertans towards a path to recovery. In addition, the government announced $25 million to support construction of five therapeutic communities across Alberta as part of an integrated system that encompasses clients of the health care system, justice system, and community social services system.

    Existing supervised consumption sites across the province will receive $15.7 million in funding, a reduction of $2 million from last year due to the closure of the Lethbridge site. There is no new funding for harm reduction services, instead focusing on recovery-based services.

    Employment and Income Support

    Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) and Income Support programs, have seen lower caseloads over the past year. Many people accessing these supports had transitioned to the Canada Emegency Response Benefit (CERB), likely because the larger payments allowed them to better meet their needs. The government will continue to fund these income support programs and serve vulnerable Albertans, although there will be no funding increases.

    The government introduced benefits specially for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Critical Worker Benefit provides a one-time payment of $1,200 to individuals working on the front lines during the pandemic. People who work in health care, social services, education, and private sectors are eligible; $465 million has been dedicated for this benefit.

    The Government of Alberta is dedicated to getting people back to work. As part of its Recovery Plan, it has instituted a Labour and Talent Strategy to increase learning opportunities, expand the apprenticeship model, and enhance connections between school and industries so that young Albertans will have better job prospects. The province is also dedicating $1.5 billion over four years to key economic sectors, assuming that they will build and diversify Alberta’s economy and create new jobs.

    Drugs and Supplemental Health Benefits

    As with the previous budget, there are changes to drug programs (which include transitioning patients from higher cost biologic medications to generic versions as well as the Seniors Drug Program no longer covering spouses and dependents younger than 65 years of age). However, plans to introduce income tested deductibles were deferred and are not reflected in the new budget.

    In addition, there are funding increases to the Outpatient Cancer Therapy and Specialized High Cost Drug programs to address drug cost increases and higher patient volumes. The operating expense budget for these programs has grown to over $1.9 billion per year.

    Family and Community Support Services     

    Funding for Family and Community Support Services is being maintained at $100 million. To address pressing social challenges—particularly against the backdrop of COVID-19—the Community and Social Services ministry is providing $7 million for the Civil Society Empowerment Fund to help non-profit organizations and charities address social problems for Albertans. In addition, $13 million will be provided for sexual assault services and over $5 million will be provided for Family Violence Prevention programs.

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