Thought this would be of interest to C4HPers, some people may make the
links to past postings on the list, thanks to all that take the time to
post information.  ( I hope to have all 80 questions up on the web in the
next couple weeks)

I am typing these in so please ignore typos.

S


The U.N. Committee on Social, Economic Rights held a pre-session meeting
early in May,  they discussed  the questions that should be put to Canada
regarding its third report to the committee, the questions are meant to
further clarify its (Canada's) report and to be part of the basis for
discussion when Canada formerly presents its report in Geneva in November
of this year, on its (Canada's) compliance with the Covenant on Social,
Economic and Cultural Rights.

For information on the committee:

http://shr.aaas.org/Committe.htm

For information on the covenant:

 http://www.hri.ca/uninfo/treaties/2.shtml

E/C.12/Q/CAN/I
22 May 1998
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights

List of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the
third periodic report of CANADA concerning the rights referred to in
article 1-15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights


I. PRIORITY CONCERNS


Social security

36. Please estimate what it costs on average to meet the special needs
arising from pregnancy and caring and providing for a newborn, including
special dietary needs, etc.  Are these special needs provided for in social
assistance rates for pregnant women?  Please provide information about any
changes in those benefits.


Right to an adequate standard of living

38.  Please provide information as to the number of people paying more than
their shelter allowance for housing and indicate whether paying for housing
out of money needed for food may lead to hunger in these households.

39. What potion of children who use food banks go hungry and how often do
parents go hungry?

40. Explain how school food programs fit into federal and provincial
strategies to address hunger and how the government intends to ensure that
the dignity of children and their parents is respected in those programs?

41. Please provide any available data on the extent of homelessness in
various cites in Canada.  At what point would the government consider
homelessness in Canada to constitute a national emergency.

50.  What measures did the federal and provincial governments take to
follow up on the recommendations of the Committee in 1993 to reduce the gap
between welfare rates and the poverty line?  Has this gap been reduced?  If
not, what is the explanation for the government's failure to address this
pressing need during a time of relative economic prosperity?

53.  In 1993 the Government informed the Committee that section 7 of the
Charter at least guaranteed that people are not to be deprived of basic
necessitates and may be interpreted to include the rights under the
Covenant, such as the rights under article 11.  Is this still the position
of all governments of Canada?

Ontario

69. Which programs has the Ontario Government devolved to municipalities
and what will be the effect on the province's ability to ensure compliance
with the Covenant in these areas?



--
Sherrie Tingley
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