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Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

ISAC works to address issues of income security and poverty in Ontario

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Media & Policy News: 27 January 2014

January 27, 2014

Top Stories

Provincial advisory panel to release report on minimum wage today – reported to recommend annual inflationary increases:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/27/panel_calls_for_annual_minimum_wage_hikes_pegged_to_inflation.html

“These are people who are working like crazy to support their families, full time, and they just cannot get by. They’re going to food banks to bolster their food intake at the end of every month.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/working-for-nothing-canada-joins-global-minimum-wage-debate/article16508375/

Dr. Gary Bloch in today’s Globe: “I know why the minimum wage needs to rise”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/as-a-doctor-i-know-too-well-why-the-minimum-wage-needs-to-rise/article16516712/#dashboard/follows/

Taxes are like Brussels sprouts, says Kaylie Tiessen of the CCPA Ontario. And that’s a good thing:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4333970-why-taxes-are-like-brussels-sprouts-and-why-that-s-a-good-thing-/#.UuLC6FuGWzE.facebook

Upstream: Changing the political conversation to address the real causes of poverty in Canada:
http://metronews.ca/news/saskatoon/921737/upstream-picking-up-steam-beyond-saskatchewan-borders/

Ottawa Citizen column: Guaranteed Income a good idea:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/touch/story.html?id=9427492

Ontario

Five by-election scenarios, and what each would mean for a general election:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/01/24/byelection_results_could_herald_or_forestall_spring_election.html

MCSS publishes submissions to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, after the Commission’s website is taken down:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/publications/social/socialServices_commssion.aspx

A chief actuary’s possible model for a made-in-Ontario pension plan:
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/01/13/cpp-void/

Around the Province

North Bay Parry Sound Health Board calls on province to increase social assistance rates:
http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=57370

Simcoe Muskoka Board of Health says low social assistance incomes are a threat to health:
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/4326606-low-incomes-called-threat-to-health/

Toronto City Council voting on budget today – Social Planning Toronto has analysis:
http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/news/city-council-votes-on-2014-budget-this-week/

Across the Country

Calgary sees 3.5% decline in EI recipients:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+region+sees+decline+regular+Employment+Insurance+recipients/9420898/story.html

Decline also seen in Saskatchewan:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1102789/number-of-people-receiving-ei-in-saskatchewan-drops-in-november/

But overall, EI recipient numbers remain relatively unchanged:
http://www.citynews.ca/2014/01/23/number-of-people-on-ei-unchanged-in-november-statistics-canada-says/

EI claims process frustrating for new moms in Saskatoon:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-moms-frustrated-with-ei-claim-process-1.2508781

Atlantic Premiers’ Council panel told EI changes bringing depression and fear to region:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2014-01-21/article-3584286/Premiers-council-told-EI-changes-bringing-fear,-depression-to-region/1

PEI woman says end of pilot project meant no income for three months:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2014-01-23/article-3587089/%26lsquo%3BYou-just-survive%26rsquo%3B,-Prince-Edward-Island-woman-says-of-EI-changes/1

“Consistent themes” heard in Atlantic EI consultations:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1181721-ei-panel-hears-consistent-themes

National

EI surpluses continue to be used to pay down the federal deficit; a “break-even” scheme will see contributions – and likely benefits – reduced:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/24/payroll_taxes_up_despite_lowtax_claims_by_jim_flaherty.html

Survey shows employers just want governments “to get on with” pension reforms:
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140124-907852.html

Coddling corporations: CCPA’s Erika Shaker questions governments’ parenting skills:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2014/01/20/permissive-parenting-are-we-raising-a-generation-of-corporate-brats/

International

Actual affirmative action disability hiring targets for US federal government contractors – if they can do it in the land of the free….:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industry-panel-discusses-new-federal-rules-affecting-hiring–recruitment-of-people-with-disabilities-240759281.html

Obama’s State of the Union speech tomorrow to focus on inequality:

  • http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/01/26/poverty-and-the-education-opportunity-gap-will-obama-step-up-in-sotu/
  • http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/war-on-poverty-still-a-political-battle/article_6dbef904-8534-11e3-81ec-001a4bcf6878.html

Op-ed on Massachusetts welfare reforms asks “why the hardheartedness?”:
http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/2014/01/17/op-ed-welfare-reform-would-only-deepen-a-poverty-crisis/

Australia about to undertake large-scale welfare review:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/01/21/16/18/unified-welfare-payment-on-menu-again

Advocates welcome the review:
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2013/s3929017.htm

Opposition accuses Australian government of manufacturing a welfare crisis:
http://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=944926

Australia Post looking at charging for mail delivery:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-21/australia-post-survey-sparks-concern/5211092

Closure of welfare clinics in Ireland to “realign” services causing hardship:
http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/01/25/closure-of-welfare-clinics-another-blow-to-rural-communities/

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week in the UK:
http://www.actionweek.org.uk/about.html

US tech firms hoping to stop G20’s tax avoidance reforms:
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/19/tech-firms-attempt-halt-tax-avoidance-reforms?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2

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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.