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Media & Policy News: 14 July 2017

July 14, 2017

Top Stories

Seven months in a shelter, still searching for a home:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/09/seven-months-in-a-shelter-still-searching-for-a-home.html

  • Average rent in Toronto passes $2,000 a month, report finds: https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/07/07/toronto-tenants-face-tighter-squeeze-report.html

Sudbury agrees to maintain funding to help those on social assistance:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/discretionary-funds-sudbury-city-budget-2018-1.4201125

  • Council opts to fund social service benefits province won’t: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/council-opts-to-fund-social-service-benefits-province-wont-669224

Sears managers to earn thousands in bonuses while laid-off workers get no severance:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/sears-laid-off-restructuring-bonus-1.4204178

  • Sears Canada, former employees reach compromise on benefits, pension payments: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sears-canada-health-benefits-court-1.4202842
  • What Sears Canada’s case says about how safe your retirement benefits are:
    http://globalnews.ca/news/3579070/what-sears-canadas-case-says-about-how-safe-your-retirement-benefits-are/

Bank of Canada governor credits Canada Child Benefit stimulus with stronger economy:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/bank-governor-credits-liberal-stimulus-with-stronger-economy-1.3500252?autoPlay=true

  • Bank of Canada increases overnight rate target to ¾ per cent: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/2017/07/fad-press-release-2017-07-12/
  • Interest rate hike: Most Canadians would struggle to pay just $130 more a month, survey shows: http://globalnews.ca/news/3586813/canadians-debt-interest-rate-increase/
  • Canada needs a raise, not a higher interest rate: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/07/11/canada-needs-raise-not-higher-interest-rate/

Fear of losing custody stops pregnant women from disclosing homelessness, Toronto numbers show:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/02/fear-of-losing-custody-stops-pregnant-women-from-disclosing-homelessness-toronto-numbers-show.html

  • Star editorial: Homeless births need tracking: http://startouch.thestar.com/screens/dd997b32-450f-44d8-9029-e7faa47c49d7%7C_0.html

Outside the echo-chamber of commerce: Why a $15 minimum wage is good for Ontario:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/07/10/15-minimum-wage-good-for-ontario/

  • Liberals happy to take the heat for $15 minimum wage — and there’s a lot of it: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/reevely-liberals-happy-to-take-the-heat-for-15-minimum-wage-and-theres-a-lot-of-it
  • Employers push back at minimum wage hike: http://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-news/employers-push-back-at-minimum-wage-hike-227954.aspx
  • Ottawa businesses fear wage hike could force layoffs: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/minimum-wage-hearings-ontario-2017-wynne-1.4173941
  • Thunder Bay small business owners tell legislative committee, raising minimum wage to $15 isn’t affordable: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/small-business-owners-tell-legislative-committee-raising-minimum-wage-to-15-isnt-affordable-668025
  • Bill 148 will devastate business says Chamber: http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/news/local/2017/7/12/bill-148-legislation-will-devastate-business-says-chamber.html
  • Orillia small business owners share concerns about proposed minimum wage increase: http://www.orilliapacket.com/2017/07/11/small-business-owners-share-concerns-about-the-proposed-minimum-wage-increase
  • Mississauga Board of Trade endorses open letter urging premier to slow down labour reform: https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/7417940-board-of-trade-endorses-open-letter-urging-premier-to-slow-down-labour-reform/
  • Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce calls to slow down minimum wage process: http://www.haliburtonecho.ca/slow-down-minimum-wage-process-chamber
  • Ontario wants your input on a $15 minimum wage: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-minimum-wage-hike-employment-1.4197267
  • Ontario minimum wage committee hearings a bit of an eye opener: http://globalnews.ca/news/3590212/ontario-minimum-wage-committee-hearings-a-bit-of-an-eye-opener/
  • North Bay hearing listens to minimum wage concerns: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/12/north-bay-hearing-listens-to-minimum-wage-concerns
  • Minimum wage increase of 32% in 18 months too fast, province hears: http://www.saultstar.com/2017/07/12/minimum-wage-increase-of-32-in-18-months-too-fast-province-hears
  • Fruit and vegetable farmers worried about $15 minimum wage: http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/fruit-and-vegetable-farmers-worried-about-15-minimum-wage-1.3496935
  • Ontario’s minimum wage hike is too much, too fast, and could cause job losses, business coalition warns: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/07/10/ontarios-minimum-wage-hike-is-too-much-too-fast-and-could-cause-job-losses-business-coalition-warns.html
  • Barrie business owner concerned about minimum wage boost: https://www.simcoe.com/opinion-story/7406355-barrie-business-owner-concerned-about-minimum-wage-boost/
  • “Keep Ontario Working”– the Chamber of Commerce’s website against the employment and labour law changes: http://keepontarioworking.ca/
  • Hamilton Council spends over an hour debating Bill 148: https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2017/07/council-spends-over-an-hour-debating-provincial-bill-148-minimum-wage-increase/
  • Hamilton councillors delay supporting Ontario’s labour reform legislation: https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/7416102-hamilton-councillors-delay-supporting-ontario-s-labour-reform-legislation/
  • Canadian Federation of Independent Business shut out of minimum wage talks: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/13/cfib-shut-out-of-ontarios-minimum-wage-talks
  • “My message to business executives and others campaigning against a $15 minimum wage is this: If your business cannot afford to pay a $15 minimum wage, then you should probably not be in business”: http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/11/spare-me-the-hysteria-over-minimum-wage-hikes
  • A $15 minimum wage is a feminist issue: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ywca-toronto/a-15-minimum-wage-is-a-feminist-issue_a_23026790/
  • Three cheers for a $15 an hour minimum wage: https://www.mississauga.com/opinion-story/7419670-point-counter-point-three-cheers-for-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage/
  • 40 economists support Ontario minimum wage increase – here’s one of them: http://www.iheartradio.ca/610cktb/40-economists-support-ont-minimum-wage-increase-here-s-one-of-them-1.2797043
  • Workplace laws need further changes: Horwath: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/07/13/workplace-laws-need-further-changes-horwath.html
  • Patrick Brown on minimum wage hike, carbon pricing, autism services: https://omny.fm/shows/the-andrew-lawton-show/patrick-brown-on-summer-tour-of-province
  • Workers’ Action Centre: Let’s defend and strengthen Bill 148 – Submission deadline July 21: http://mailchi.mp/workersactioncentre/defend-and-strengthen-bill-148-submission-deadline?e=51059eb750

How we can start to walk the path of reconciliation:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/barahona-how-we-can-start-to-walk-the-path-of-reconciliation

Canadians’ real wages are shrinking. Is that why we’re falling into an “endless debt cycle”?
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/07/11/canadians-real-wages-are-shrinking-is-that-why-were-falling-i_a_23025302/

CMHC tells Ontario housing co-ops to abandon low-income members:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cmhc-tells-ontario-housing-co-ops-to-abandon-low-income-members-634323663.html

Canada adds 45,300 jobs in June while unemployment edges down to 6.5%:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/07/07/canada-adds-45-300-jobs-in-june-while-unemployment-rate-edges-down-to-6-5.html

Police ticketing panhandlers and people who are homeless: Legal challenge:
http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2017/07/12/police-ticketing-panhandlers-homeless-legal-challenge/

Legal challenge targets rejected chronic mental stress workers’ compensation claims:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7408548-legal-challenge-targets-rejected-chronic-mental-stress-workers-compensation-claims/#.WWTcwBxJkYM.twitter

Four more Indigenous youth take their own lives in Northern Ontario, sparking calls for action:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/four-more-indigenous-young-people-take-own-lives-in-northern-ontario-sparking-calls-for-actions/article35581421/

Toronto councillor left a huge legacy and big project for her council colleagues: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/12/pam-mcconnell-left-a-huge-legacy-to-toronto-and-a-big-legacy-project-for-her-council-colleagues-keenan.html

Why do poor people smoke, and rich people quit?:
http://www.thinkupstream.net/the_smoking_gap

 

Ontario

Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and OPSEU forge historic partnership:
https://www.nupge.ca/content/mississaugas-new-credit-first-nation-and-opseu-forge-historic-partnership

Together the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres take steps towards reconciliation:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/together-ohrc-and-ofifc-take-steps-towards-reconciliation

Province plans to further clamp down on payday loans, government cheque cashers and rent-to-owns:
https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2017/07/province-plans-to-further-clampdown-on-pay-day-loans-gov-cheque-cashes-and-rent-to-owns/

Ontario to change child support law to give adult children with disabilities access to parental cash:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/08/ontario-to-change-child-support-law-to-give-adult-children-with-disabilities-access-to-parental-cash.html

Ontario developers form group aimed at mitigating housing reform:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-developers-form-group-aimed-at-mitigating-housing-reform/article35651627/

Government release: Ontario’s economic growth continues to lead G7 countries:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/07/ontarios-economic-growth-continues-to-lead-g7-countries.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

July 18: Toronto Fight for $15 and Fairness Organizing Meeting:
https://www.facebook.com/events/149531105618742/?active_tab=discussion

Upcoming cross-provincial Fight for $15 and Fairness events:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Fightfor15andFairness/events/

New CCPA report: Ontario Needs a Raise: Who benefits from a $15 minimum wage?:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/publications/Ontario%20Office/2017/07/Ontario_Needs_a_Raise_2017.pdf

July 20: OCAP Speakers Series: Poverty and Disability:
https://ocaptoronto.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/speakers-series-poverty-disability/

Stats Can: Family income and income of individuals, related variables: Sub-provincial data, 2015:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170712/dq170712c-eng.htm

Stats Can: New housing price index, May 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170713/dq170713b-eng.htm

Stats Can: Job vacancies, first quarter 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170713/dq170713a-eng.htm

Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/edmonton-commits-to-ending-homelessness?e=6da7d6f883

 

Around the Province

Toronto to expand emergency drop-ins:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/07/06/city-to-expand-emergency-drop-ins.html

New affordable housing in St. Catherines, for “opportunity and hope”:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/07/10/new-affordable-housing-for-opportunity-and-hope

Niagara’s jobless rate spikes; tourism jobs unfilled:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/07/10/unemployment-rate-increases-in-niagara

A man who is homeless and has disabilities to be evicted from an Etobicoke park:
http://www.680news.com/video/2017/07/03/video-disabled-homeless-man-to-be-evicted-from-etobicoke-park/

BIG program moving forward for 2000 Lindsay residents:
https://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/7412471-basic-income-guarantee-program-moving-forward-for-2-000-lindsay-residents/

Seniors left behind as services flee smaller towns:
http://www.countyweeklynews.ca/2017/07/08/seniors-left-behind-as-services-flee-smaller-towns

 

Across the Country

Disappearing jobs: NL unemployment rate now 14.9%:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/unemployment-rate-newfoundland-labrador-1.4194559

Five Nova Scotia steps to a $15 minimum wage:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1484426-black-five-nova-scotia-steps-to-a-15-minimum-wage

Organizations oppose Quebec’s proposed welfare sanctions:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/organizations-oppose-quebecs-proposed-welfare-sanctions

Opinion: Public transit in Montreal should be free:
http://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-public-transit-in-montreal-should-be-free

No “last call”? Proposed rules for restricting liquor sales in La Ronge, Sask stir debate:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/no-last-call-rules-restricting-liquor-sales-1.4202543

Affordable housing units officially opened in Weyburn, Sask:
http://www.weyburnreview.com/news/local-news/affordable-housing-units-officially-opened-1.21065409

Regina family holds funeral in their backyard because of social assistance cuts to funeral benefits:
http://regina.ctvnews.ca/regina-family-holds-funeral-in-their-backyard-1.3494346

UFCW Shoppers Drug Mart workers in Cloverdale, BC ratify collective agreement:
http://www.ufcw1518.com/bargaining/unionized-shoppers-drug-mart-workers-ratify-contract/

Vancouver property owners “panic” to rent as vacancy tax implemented:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/property-owners-panic-as-vacancy-tax-takes-effect-1.4190576

Government partners integrate injection-drug rooms into supportive-housing sites around Vancouver:
http://www.straight.com/news/936596/government-partners-integrate-injection-drug-rooms-supportive-housing-sites-around

Judy Graves, Vancouver advocate for people who are homeless, to run in city by-election:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/judy-graves-vancouver-advocate-for-the-homeless-to-run-in-city-by-election/article35678982/

Refugees’ legal aid cuts in BC “pretty shocking” as deadline nears: lawyer:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/07/12/refugees-legal-aid-cuts-pretty-shocking-as-deadline-nears.html

Jason Kenney’s financial situation doesn’t compare to minimum wage:
http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/sabir-kenneys-financial-situation-doesnt-compare-to-minimum-wage

 

National

Workers, unions must fight for a piece of the pie:
http://www.thetelegram.com/opinion/columnists/2017/7/8/lana-payne–workers–unions-must-fight-for-a-piece-of-the-pie.html

Feds should move faster on changes to mandatory victim surcharges:
http://www.lawtimesnews.com/201707106284/headline-news/feds-should-move-faster-on-surcharge-changes

Fact sheet: Public transit, privatization and the Canada Infrastructure Bank:
https://cupe.ca/fact-sheet-public-transit-privatization-and-canada-infrastructure-bank

Forgotten refugees say they’re tired of waiting for their cases to be heard:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/07/06/forgotten-refugees-say-theyre-tired-of-waiting-for-their-cases-to-be-heard.html?platform=hootsuite

Refugee health clinic sees surge of uninsured pediatric patients:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/06/26/refugee-health-clinic-sees-surge-of-uninsured-pediatric-patients.html

Extending maternity leave won’t help women returning to work:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/extending-maternity-leave-wont-help-women-returning-to-work/article35596719/

Debunking the Fraser Institute’s scaremongering on Indigenous rights:
http://www.straight.com/news/934906/seth-klein-debunking-fraser-institutes-latest-scaremongering-indigenous-rights

Changes to bail in Canada make it fairer for those with low income:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/changes-to-bail-in-canada-make-it-fairer-for-those-with-low-/

Candidates for NDP leadership say yes, we can eliminate poverty:
http://www.torontosun.com/2017/07/09/eliminate-poverty-yes-we-can-say-ndp-candidates

 

International

Disability rights protesters block roads in Israel as fight for increased disability payments continues:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Protesters-block-roads-as-fight-for-increased-disability-payments-continues-499232

UK faces tightest squeeze on household incomes for five years:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/06/british-households-squeezed-by-rising-prices-after-brexit-vote

Scotland is giving out free tampons to tackle “period poverty”:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/3am-fashion-celebrity-beauty/scotland-giving-out-free-tampons-10782296

US schools rethink “lunch shaming” policies that humiliate children with meal debts:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/u-s-schools-rethink-lunch-shaming-policies-humiliate-children-meal-debts/

US advocates say pay equity can fight poverty:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/style/3am-fashion-celebrity-beauty/scotland-giving-out-free-tampons-10782296

US jobs growth faster than expected:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40532594

In Venezuela, minimum wage isn’t enough to fend off hunger anymore:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/07/10/in-venezuela-minimum-wage-isnt-enough-to-fend-off-hunger-anymore.html

How not being able to afford diapers hurts mothers’ mental health and their ability to parent:
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/07/diaper-need/399041/?utm_source=atlfb

Does this Canadian province have the solution to the world’s problem of unemployment?:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/canada-justin-trudeau-ontario-basic-income-kathleen-wynne-a7823126.html

Universal Basic Income is just a bedtime story Elon Musk tells himself to help the super-wealthy sleep:
https://qz.com/1024938/ubi-is-just-a-bedtime-story-elon-musk-tells-himself-to-help-the-super-wealthy-sleep/

Can homelessness happen to anyone? Don’t believe the hype:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/can-homelessness-happen-to-anyone/

I grew up on food stamps. I’ll never forget the sneering looks:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/12/food-stamps-poverty-america-shame?CMP=share_btn_fb

Why more jobs and degrees won’t reduce poverty:
https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/07/12/why-more-jobs-and-degrees-won-reduce-poverty/lTzft5BMidw2Pqw5DCDAWP/story.html

Are you ready to consider that capitalism is the real problem?:
https://www.fastcompany.com/40439316/are-you-ready-to-consider-that-capitalism-is-the-real-problem

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This site contains general legal information for people in Ontario, Canada. It is not intended to be used as legal advice for a specific legal problem. ISAC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization. ISAC is funded by Legal Aid Ontario (LAO). The funding for this website is also provided by LAO. The views expressed in any of ISAC’s publications (including written, oral, or visual) are the views of the clinic and do not necessarily reflect those of LAO.