In Ontario, if your boss refuses to pay the minimum wage or violates your other employment rights, you can go to court or contact the Ministry of Labour. But can your boss make you sign an agreement to give up that right? ISAC argues that the workers’ right to seek justice in our public institutions cannot be signed away or privatized.
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ODSP: Treatment and the Definition of Disability
The eligibility rules for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits do not require a person to undergo specific medical tests, treatments or referrals. Instead, decision-makers must look at how a person’s health problems impact them overall. In doing so they are supposed to rely on the information given by the person and by the health …
Drug Benefits for Social Assistance Recipients: S.S. v. Ontario Public Drug Programs
The Ontario Drug Benefit is an essential program that ensures that social assistance recipients and seniors can access the medications they need. However, the Ontario Drug Benefit does not cover the costs of all medications. ISAC co-counselled with Mississauga Community Legal Services on a case about a medication that the Ontario Drug Benefit refused to …
New Legal Challenge to ODSP’s Special Diet Allowance: Neuromyelitis Optica
Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recognize that some people with disabilities will have higher food costs because their medical conditions require them to eat a special diet. Both programs provide a “special diet allowance” to people who have one or more specific medical conditions that would allow them to qualify. The …
Employment and Human Rights Law: Discrimination and Wrongful Firing of Indigenous Elder
The Income Security Advocacy Centre and Lake Country Community Legal Clinic are jointly representing an Indigenous Elder in a legal challenge to the discrimination and wrongful termination he experienced while working as an Elder for the Correctional Service Canada. The Elder is Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) of Ohsweken (Six Nations) territory. He was hired to work as …
Privacy Rights and Access to Information: Toronto Star v. Ontario
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) requires that the Ontario government protect the personal information of individuals, and sets out a process whereby people and institutions can request access to government-held information. Under FIPPA, an individual’s personal information can only be disclosed with their consent or where that information does not …
Canadian Human Rights Commission v. Attorney General of Canada
Where can you go when government benefit programs discriminate against you? The Supreme Court of Canada will be hearing an important case about that issue on November 28, 2017. The Government of Canada is responsible for a number of very important programs and social benefits that people rely on in order to get by, including …
Reilly v. Ford Motor Company: Challenge to the deduction of CPP-D benefits from private disability insurance payments
Background on the Case Disability insurance plays a critical role in ensuring that those who are off work due to disability have access to the income they need to survive. Every worker contributes to the Canada Pension Plan and many also contribute to private long-term disability insurance plans through their workplace. However, payments from disability …
