September 2011 - Page 2 of 2 - Columbia Institute

Income inequality in Canada rising faster than in the US

According to a recent report by the Conference Board of Canada, the income gap in Canada has risen since the mid 1990’s, at a faster rate than in the United States. Using the Gini index, the report shows a “measure of inequality grew in Canada from 0.293 in the mid-1990s to 0.320 in the late 2000s. A Gini index under 3 is an indicator of low income inequality. Meanwhile, the US Gini index rose from 0.361 to 0.378 in the same period.”

In a news release, the Conference Board’s President and CEO Anne Golden said:

“Canada had the fourth largest increase in income inequality among its peers. Even though the U.S. currently has the largest rich-poor income gap among these countries, the gap in Canada has been rising at a faster rate.

“As we highlighted in our analysis of Canadian income inequality in July, high inequality both raises a moral question about fairness and can contribute to social tensions. In Canada, the gap between the rich and poor has widened over two decades, especially compared to our peer countries.”

When communicating climate change, beware the “boomerang effect”

A recent study looking at Republican American’s reactions to climate change found that climate-related events that were in distant places received little in the way of support or empathy. In fact, when Republicans were asked to support climate change initiatives based on disasters happening in distant places they were found to be more steadfast in their refusal to participate. This has been called the “boomerang effect.” The study is useful in that in shows that messaging around climate change should take into account the beliefs and ideologies of various groups and develop messaging accordingly. Scientists cannot expect everyone to react to far off disasters with empathy or interest.

Read report here.

The majority of Canadian workers are living paycheque to paycheque

A new survey by the Canadian Payroll association shows that 57% of workers don’t have enough money saved to last them should their paycheque be delayed even by a week. Nearly 75% of Canadians are not reaching their savings goals for retirement and 40% are planning to delay their age of retirement. Read more in the Globe and Mail.

Traditional playgrounds are not the cure for declining activity amongst children

The belief that adding more traditional playgrounds will encourage activity amongst children has proven to be a false assumption. A study that used GPS (Global Positioning System) to examine the link between environment and activity levels amongst children has shown that traditional playgrounds do little to promote activity. The large metal structures are often intimidating for children and unusable in winter or rainy months. The study showed that kids were more active in natural areas and playscapes with where they could run around, explore and use their imaginations to define “open-ended play elements like wood posts.” Although childhood obesity rates are climbing and although positive links between green space and learning have been found, playgrounds remain low on the priority list for many underfunded school boards. In BC parents have had to raise money for playgrounds themselves. Read more in the Globe and Mail.

Find out about Evergreen’s School Ground Greening program.

All day kindergarten a semi solution to a larger problem

The introduction of all day kindergarten is causing some tension for parents and teachers alike. Although many parents and teachers agree the program will help youngsters with reading and arithmetic they feel the introduction of the program is rushed and poorly funded. The program is meant to address gaps in early childhood education and care, but many advocates suggest affordable, accessible childcare with well paid and well educated staff may be a better solution. Read more in the Vancouver Courrier.

Read more on about “Integrated Early Care and Learning in BC” at the Coalition of Childcare Advocates of BC website.

BC’s Chief Atahm Elementary School provides immersion in First Nations language and culture

Located on the Adam’s Lake reserve, Chief Atahm Elementary relies on elders for its immersion program that teaches only in the local language, Secwepemctsin, from kindergarten to Grade 3. The school also provides instruction in traditional cultural practices, from plant identification and uses, to preserving meat. The involvement of local elders and parents has created a generation of children connected to their culture and community, and will hopefully halt the decline of the Secwepemctsin language. Read more in the Tyee.