Canada

As we are now into September, as a member of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and the larger Vincentian family, there are two very important days this month. For many Canadians and our American friends who live in northern states, I think September gives us a...

We were all saddened by the news of the death of Aretha Franklin, who was much more than a singer. She was a civil rights activist and a symbol of all that is good in America. In reading more about her life “off stage” one cannot help but have great respect for this...

I live in the province of Ontario, here in Canada. We recently held a provincial election for the office of premier (equivalent to a governor in the USA). For various reasons this election saw a shift to the conservative side and ended in the election of Doug Ford as...

Deep in the heart of Texas, the government of the Unites States of America operates immigrant detention centres. Many countries have immigration detention centres, including Canada, but the Texas centres are operated in a very different way. They make a point of...

In my article earlier this month I discussed the concept of a guaranteed basic income to having a major impact on poverty. Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a strong supporter of a basic income? In fact, Dr. King was planning a new march on Washington...

What is a guaranteed basic income? How does it work and how can it help those living in poverty? The concept of providing a guaranteed basic income to all who qualify is an idea that has been around for some time but is a topic that is currently enjoying a higher...

I imagine everyone has their own vision of poverty. It is usually a picture of someone dressed poorly, if a man he likely has a beard or long unkempt hair. Women are pictured in old, dirty clothes with no makeup. Poverty can also mean you live in subsidized housing,...

The first Principle of Catholic Social Teaching is the Principle of Human Dignity which states that Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. The...

In Canada we use a fair number of migrant workers in the agricultural field. The federal government offers a  temporary seasonal worker program for this need. Many of these workers come from Mexico and other central America countries, as well as Jamaica. While in...