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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: 9 December 2013

December 9, 2013

Upcoming Webinars

Register now – and forward to others who may have an interest

Dec 10: ARCH Disability Law Clinic hosting a webinar on legal services for people with disabilities:
http://guestlistapp.com/events/214014

Dec 11: Webinar: Advocating for Refugee and Other Precarious Status Clients on Social Assistance Matters
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/advocating-refugee-and-other-precarious-status-clients-social-assistance-matters

Top Stories

Inequality is the defining issue of our time:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/12/04/inequality-is-the-defining-issue-of-our-time/

Toronto Star compiles comprehensive list of how federal Conservatives are “dismantling social programs built over generations”:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/12/09/conservatives_dismantling_social_programs_built_over_generations.html

New research shows that healthy eating adds $2,000/year to a family’s budget:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/healthy-eating-adds-2k-a-year-to-family-grocery-bill-1.2452451

  • More info from Harvard School of Public Health: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/12/pinpointing-the-higher-cost-of-a-healthy-diet/

Internal review of social assistance in Manitoba is disappointing:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/off-welfare-and-into-jobs-report-234867111.html

The OFL’s statement on International Day for People with Disabilities:
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/ofl-statement-make-ontario-a-fully-accessible-province-by-2025-1858670.htm

Wellesley Institute on December 6: Housing is key to battling violence against women:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/housing/violence-against-women-the-importance-of-housing/

Child Care Modernization Act introduced last week:
http://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2013/12/child-care-modernization-act.html

  • Some initial notes from the OCBCC on the legislation: http://www.childcareontario.org/highlights_child_care_modernization_act

Wellesley’s Sheila Block, on Ontario’s new legislation on precarious work:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/economics/improved-protection-for-marginalized-workers-esa/

Resources

OECD’s Country Note on Canada’s Income Distribution and Poverty (2008):
http://www.oecd.org/els/soc/41525292.pdf

Ministry of Community and Social Services newsletter on developmental services:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/documents/en/mcss/publications/spotlight/Issue36_november2013.pdf

Around the Province

Inequality is the real issue behind the Rob Ford crisis in Toronto:
http://spacing.ca/toronto/2013/12/04/inequality-real-issue-behind-ford-crisis-toronto/

Call for municipal identification for non-status people in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2013/12/05/municipal_id_urged_for_nonstatus_torontonians.html

The Poor People’s Inquiry makes a stop in Burlington:
http://burlingtongazette.ca/local-peoples-inquiry-supports-a-mock-trial-for-premier-wynne-and-members-of-her-government/

While childcare should be a defining municipal election issue:
http://metronews.ca/voices/urban-compass-toronto-2/878536/next-election-lets-make-childcare-the-issue-and-the-legacy/

Hamilton seeks funding to resolve housing crisis:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4261533-hamilton-seeks-funding-to-fix-housing-crisis/

Across the Country

Free private voicemail: an idea to help low-income and vulnerable people connect:
http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/12/04/voicemail_service_helps_the_homeless_unemployed_reconnect_with_society.html

To address poverty, “wrap children in integrated, coordinated, high-quality academic, social and health programs and supports from cradle to college to career”:
http://www.vancouversun.com/Daphne+Bramham+Solving+poverty+simple/9248558/story.html

Vancouver outlaws the doorknob in favour of accessibility for all:
http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/11/20/vancouver_bans_door_knobs.html

BC hosting community consultations to create a white paper on disability:
http://www.straight.com/news/541501/disability-advocates-share-ideas-bc-government-starts-consultation?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Manning Institute makes the case for a national poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/12/06/manning-foundation-paper-says-poverty-reduction-efforts-in-calgary-are-mostly-ineffective

National

The Spectator Generation: And what it means for social cohesion in Canada:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/4260964-the-young-will-inherit-a-future-they-didn-t-choose/

Parliamentary Budget Office says feds padding budget surpluses with EI funds:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/flahertys-planned-surplus-relies-on-keeping-ei-rates-too-high-watchdog-says/article15781473/

Finance Minister Flaherty says the EI surplus will not be used to create a budget surplus:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com//news/politics/ei-funds-will-not-be-used-to-create-budget-surplus-flaherty-says/article15805676/?cmpid=rss1&click=dlvr.it

Finance ministers meeting – improving CPP is top of mind:
http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/12/08/bold_action_needed_to_improve_canada_pension_plan_conference_told.html

But the feds are cool to the idea:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/criticism-of-ndp-over-cpp-pulled-from-finance-canada-website/article15803299/

International

Biggest ever fast food workers’ walkout last week:
http://www.salon.com/2013/12/05/biggest_ever_fast_food_strike_today_thousands_walk_out_across_100_cities/

Low wage workers organizing:
http://rabble.ca/columnists/2013/12/low-wage-workers-across-us-are-organizing-better-pay-labour-rights

In New Jersey, poverty rates rise and legal assistance dwindles:
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/12/post_47.html

Cuts to child care subsidies in Monroe County, NY will see people move from work to welfare:
http://wxxinews.org/post/work-welfare-cut-childcare-subsidies

New York Times Room for Debate: Making low wages livable:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/04/making-low-wages-liveable?smid=tw-share

  • Jim Stanford: the importance of unions on reducing income inequality: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/04/making-low-wages-liveable/canada-shows-the-power-of-unions
  • Ron Unz: Raise the minimum wage: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/04/making-low-wages-liveable/raise-the-minimum-wage-to-12-an-hour

LA considering a bylaw banning providing food in public areas to people who are homeless:
http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/please-dont-feed-the-homeless

New Zealand children are suffering from benefits cuts:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9477622/Children-suffering-say-benefit-cut-critics

Reducing poverty in New Zealand will reduce respiratory disease:
http://www.voxy.co.nz/health/reducing-poverty-will-reduce-respiratory-disease/5/176577

Poverty reduction can be green and fair:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/dec/05/end-poverty-ensure-equality-sustainability

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1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Tel: (416) 597-5820 • Toll Free: 1-866-245-4072 • Fax: (416) 597-5821

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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.