Minumum Wage Stalled

Ontario's general minimum wage has been raised to $10.25 an hour on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010. This is an incredible leap from the older $6.85 minimum wage, which was frozen in place for nearly a decade. Even with this massive leap, a minimum wage job will not lift a full time worker above the poverty line. Are more increases expected? Unfortunately, last weeks provincial budget did not answer this question. Ontario cannot afford to fall behind again on minimum wages. The size and time of the next increase is something for debate. Besides a decent wage, the working poor also need full-time jobs, affordable housing, and subsidized child care. Ultimately, they need more opportunities to move beyond minimum wage jobs into employment that can support a better standard of living.

I believe that raising the minimum wage for Canadians is a good first step out of poverty. However, we cannot expect to keep raising how much people are paid if they do not work for themselves to get hired. Many people nowadays do not wish to work for payment. The rely on government funding and the charity of others to get them through the day. I believe that just as important as raising the minimum wage, the government should make getting a job seem more appealing. If the minimum wage is increased, but the eagerness to get a job is not, will this really accomplish anything? The government needs to get workers into jobs before raising how much money they earn. Only then can the poverty in Canada be dealt with.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/787848--minimum-wage-stalled

Australian Internet Filter Plan Worries U.S.

The United States of America is worried about Australia's strict Internet filter that would place limitations on web content, which was put into place on Monday, March 29th. These policies have made Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among the world's democracies. US State Department Spokesman Michael Tran says: "We have raised our concerns on this matter with Australian Officials" Internet giants Google and Yahoo have condemned the proposal as a heavy-handed measure that could restrict access to legal information. The Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the filter will be used to help the public, blocking access to child pornography sites, sexual violence sites, and sites that contain detailed instructions in crime or drug use. The new filter program will be updated constantly based on public complaints. Some critics even, have put Australia in the same censorship league as China.

I do believe that Australia's Internet filter is a little too strict on it's citizens. However, I don't think America has any business in Australia's affairs. They've raised their concerns to Australian officials and now it's time for them to back off. I believe the Australian population is the main decider in this debate. If they do not support this potential "law" then it will not be put into effect. Even if it is put into effect, the citizens can vote off the current government. Also, these websites do not pose a threat to the Australian government. Why ban something that is not a threat? This, I believe, is why some critics put Australia in the same censorship league as China. Still, the question remains: has Australia become so worried about it's citizens as to limit what they can view on the World Wide Web? This remains an unanswered question for the time being.

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/03/29/tech-australia-internet-filter.html

Politicians Drop The Daycare Ball

Our municipal, provincial, and federal governments are shying away from a much-needed expansion of our child care sector. What's worse, all three levels of government wish to adopt budgets in the coming weeks that actually cut subsidized child-care spaces, lay off workers and drive up costs for full-fee parents. This would cause many parents to quit their jobs in order to find time for their children. In Toronto's proposed budget, the government strips 6 million of funding from 370 school based day cares. Experts predict that this will raise pricing for child care from an average $60 to $80. Furthermore, thousands of health care services and jobs are at risk of disappearing unless the government allocates $63.5 million for Ontario. In Ottawa, the Conservatives have shown nothing but disdain for child care and the bad effects it will have on families and the economy. However, child care delivers both social and economic benefits. Our governments need to ensure the required funding is not stripped from their budgets in a short-sighted deficit-fighting move.

I don't completely agree with this article in the sense that taxpayers should not be paying for other people's children. If one wishes to have a child, one should be emotionally and financially stable. They should not rely on other peoples labour in order to support their family. Also, the daycare system nowadays is quite impressive already. Many services don't require any money for services during the morning and afternoon. Fees are only required for extra added hours which means parents can work without fear of leaving their children at home. This, for me, introduces another problem. Parents should spend more time with their children at a younger age. They should not be sending them to day cares for 5 days of the week. Sooner or later, the child will be calling their teacher "baba" or "mama". More money towards childcare would be a leap in the wrong direction. Parents should work for their own families welfare, and have the time and decency to stay with their kids.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/773064--politicians-drop-the-daycare-ball