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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: 1 December 2015

December 1, 2015

Top Stories

ISAC has a new website! Visit us at www.incomesecurity.org!

  • We’ve missed our regular Media & Policy News emails for the last three weeks as we’ve been getting our website off the ground.
  • M&PN is now fully integrated with (and produced through) our website, so you may find the format of this message is a little different than you’re used to. There may be some growing pains with the new system so please be patient!
  • Integration with the site means you can find the archive to all our mailings back to 2012 online here: http://incomesecurity.org/media-and-policy-news/.
  • And you’re getting an extra long M&PN today because of the delay!

More Top Stories

5 lessons we can learn from seven years of poverty reduction in Ontario – anniversary this week:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/11/27/five-lessons-from-the-failing-fight-against-child-poverty.html

  • Cole: Queen’s Park is failing hungry Ontarians: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/11/26/queens-park-is-failing-hungry-ontarians-cole.html
  • Goar: Fine sentiments but no progress on child poverty: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/columnists/2015/11/25/fine-sentiments-but-no-progress-on-child-poverty-goar.html

Campaign 2000 report card on child and family poverty in Canada:
http://www.campaign2000.ca/reportCards/2015RepCards/NationalReportCardEn2015.pdf

CCPA study: Corporate income tax cuts have not only failed to foster faster growth, but have actually indirectly fostered slower growth:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/do-corporate-income-tax-rate-reductions-accelerate-growth

Canadian Institute for Health Information study: Health inequality is widening between richer and poorer Canadians:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-inequality-cihi-1.3324368

Ontario psychologists say WSIB uses “primitive practice of deeming injured workers eligible to resume work when physicians have clearly stated the opposite”:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-psychologist-alarmed-by-what-s-happening-to-wsib-claimants-1.3306891

  • WSIB is unfairly denying patient claims: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/ontario-psychologists-claim-wsib-unfairly-denying-patient-claims-1.3302778
  • Video: NDP critic Cindy Forster questions the Minister of Labour on WSIB practices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B61Sdg4lFU&feature=share
  • OFL report: http://ofl.ca/index.php/2015-wsib-report/

Premier Wynne says the province should start analyzing policy through a race lens:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/ontario-premier-says-its-time-the-province-started-analyzing-policies-through-a-race-lens

Nova Scotia to redesign their “broken social welfare program”:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1319392-nova-scotia-to-revamp-social-welfare-system

It’s time for boomers to pay their fair share of taxes:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/retirement/retire-taxes-and-portfolios/its-time-for-boomers-to-pay-their-fair-of-share-of-taxes/article27238886/

Tax credits for donations of “edible waste” to food banks is a “rubbish idea”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/donating-edible-waste-to-food-banks-in-exchange-for-tax-credit-now-thats-a-rubbish-idea/article27064689/

  • Put Food in the Budget supports that position: http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/51055/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1335050

Ontario’s sheltered workshops to close forever:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/29/ontarios-sheltered-workshops-to-close-forever.html

  • Star editorial: It’s time to integrate people with intellectual disabilities into the real workforce: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/11/08/integrate-intellectually-delayed-into-the-real-workforce-editorial.html
  • No new admissions to sheltered workshops, Minister says: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/16/no-new-admissions-to-workshops-minister.html
  • Community Living Ontario Communique: Ending Admissions to Sheltered Workshops Important First Step: http://eblast.gotenzing.com/t/r-17F50F43C078C8EC2540EF23F30FEDED

Pam Palmater: Will we see real nation-to-nation respect with Trudeau?
https://nowtoronto.com/news/will-we-see-real-nation-to-nation-respect-with-trudeau/#.VjvDGrolITQ.facebook

Briarpatch: Who wants a Guaranteed Annual Income? The critique:
http://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/who-wants-a-universal-basic-income

Reports, Campaigns, Events

RNAO Take Action: PM Trudeau and Premier Wynne: Invest now in affordable housing for better health:
http://rnao.ca/policy/action-alerts/prime-minister-trudeau-and-premier-wynne-invest-now-affordable-housing-better-h

Month of Action: Ontario workers need paid sick days!:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=3b46f2e9e4&e=51059eb750

$15 and Fairness calls for paid sick days:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=537ba730e3&e=f3bab51a7a

  • OCASI Guides for Migrant Workers:
    Low and High Skilled Streams: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/migrant-worker-guide-low-and-high-skilled-streams
  • Seasonal Agricultural Worker Stream: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/migrant-worker-guide-seasonal-agricultural-worker-program-sawp-stream
  • Caregiver Stream: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/migrant-worker-guide-caregiver-stream

Workers Action Centre review of the new Stronger Workplaces Act:
http://www.workersactioncentre.org/updates/stronger-workplaces-for-a-stronger-economy-act-2014-how-the-laws-have-changed/

Report: How much does the childcare system work and how much does a childcare space cost in Quebec?
http://childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/15/10/how-does-childcare-system-work-and-how-much-does-childcare-

Guided self-help materials for people appealing ODSP decisions, from Hamilton Community Legal Clinic:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Clinic+Develops+ODSP+Guided+Self+Help+Materials&id=308

Ontario Homeless Hub: Precarious and Low Wage Employment Infographic:
http://homelesshub.ca/blog/infographic-precarious-low-wage-employment

Ontario Living Wage Network website:
http://www.ccpaontario.ca/ontariolivingwage.ca/

Ontario

Deirdre Pike Op-Ed: We need new rules to help people who are homeless:
http://m.thespec.com/opinion-story/6117046-pike-we-need-new-rules-to-assist-the-homeless

Minimum wage vs. living wage: How Ontario’s cities stack up:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/minimum-wage-vs-living-wage-how-ontarios-cities-stack-up

Ottawa ACORN to meet with MCSS Minister Jaczek on shelter rates for people on ODSP:
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/6112966-ottawa-acorn-members-to-meet-with-social-services-minister/

Ottawa justice of the peace questions listening to Ojibway man’s “sad” story, despite Gladue principles:
http://aptn.ca/news/2015/11/10/ottawa-judge-tells-ojibway-man-she-doesnt-want-to-hear-another-sob-story/

Big win for injured workers with full indexation of benefits:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Big+Win+for+Injured+Workers&id=309

Housing crisis for adults with developmental disabilities grows in Ontario:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2331449/housing-crisis-for-adults-with-developmental-disabilities-grows-in-ontario-families/

Ontario building 30 new schools, including room for 2,135 new licensed child care spaces:
https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2015/11/ontario-building-30-new-schools-over-2000-licensed-child-care-spaces.html

Ontario building new mental health crisis centre in London:
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2015/11/ontario-building-new-mental-health-crisis-centre-in-london.html

Six Nations Polytechnic to receive additional funding:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6120814-more-than-1m-in-extra-funding-for-six-nations-polytechnic/

Around the Province

Non-profits in the GTA should lead the way in improving job quality, says new report:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/25/a-decent-proposal-not-for-profits-should-raise-job-standards-report-says.html

The hidden homeless in Toronto’s suburbs:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/homeless-toronto-1.3340277

Rising food costs overwhelm families in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties, especially those on social assistance:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2015/11/05/food-costs-overwhelm-families

Mississauga council fear poor people will be pushed away from LRT route:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/06/mississauga-council-fears-poor-people-will-be-pushed-away-from-lrt-route.html

  • Mississauga councillor proposes 10% of new builds be affordable housing: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/councillor-proposes-10-of-new-mississauga-developments-be-affordable-housing-1.3335008
  • Mississauga begins inventory of affordable housing: http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6139289-city-staff-to-begin-its-inventory-of-affordable-housing/

Hamilton OW staff mark one year of SAMS computer system with “code red day” protest:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/ontario-works-staff-stage-protest-to-mark-1-year-of-flawed-computer-system-1.3311947

Social Planning Council of Sudbury says a family of four in that city needs $66,513 to make ends meet:
http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2015/11/04-living-wage-meeting-sudbury.aspx

Windsor businesses, unions and charities committed to paying a living wage:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/more-windsor-businesses-commit-to-paying-a-living-wage

“Rays of hope” as Oshawa battles child poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2015/11/07/rays-of-hope-rise-in-oshawas-battle-against-child-poverty.html

Oshawa tenants organize for repairs to neglected, crime-ridden building:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/08/oshawa-tenants-organize-for-repairs-to-neglected-crime-ridden-building.html

Guaranteed Income urged in the fight against hunger in Ottawa:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/guaranteed-income-urged-in-fight-against-hunger

Anishinabek Nation Child Well-Being Law to be in effect April 1, 2017:
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2015/11/04/anishinabek-nation-child-well-being-law-projected-to-be-in-effect-april-1-2017/

Guelph and Wellington employers make commitment to paying a living wage:
http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/6085357-guelph-and-wellington-employers-make-commitment-to-paying-living-wage-to-employees/

Thunder Bay inquest on youth deaths: Indigenous cases treated by police as “less than worthy victims”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/indigenous-cases-treated-by-police-as-less-than-worthy-victims-lawyer-says-1.3307961?cmp=rss

Toronto’s poverty strategy means little without a financial commitment:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/11/04/when-good-talk-goes-down-like-a-lead-pipe-keenan.html

  • Toronto’s poverty reduction plan: Heart’s in the right place. Where’s the money?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontos-poverty-plan-has-its-heart-in-the-right-place/article27160494/
  • Great plan, but good luck getting the city to pay its share: http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/chris-selley-john-torys-anti-poverty-strategy-is-viable-but-good-luck-getting-the-city-to-pay-its-share
  • Toronto poverty reduction strategy aims to expand dental care for low-income adults: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/city-to-expand-dental-care-for-low-income-adults-1.3305569
  • Star Editorial: Fund the fight against poverty: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/11/08/fund-the-fight-against-poverty-editorial.html?referrer

Toronto Councillor Layton asks Queen’s Park to give municipalities inclusionary zoning powers:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6098438-councillor-mike-layton-asks-queen-s-park-to-give-municipalities-new-affordable-housing-tool/

  • Star editorial: Toronto should endorse inclusionary zoning: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/05/04/toronto-should-endorse-an-obvious-way-to-boost-affordable-housing-editorial.html

Toronto’s Meeting Place: A safe haven for those in need:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/07/the-meeting-place-a-safe-haven-for-those-in-need.html

Citypak project doles out “streetwise” backpacks to people who are homeless in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/11/06/citypak-project-distributes-a-streetwise-backpack-for-torontos-homeless.html

One Toronto man will spend the first winter in 10 years indoors:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/homeless-mindset-hard-to-shake-for-toronto-man-1.3308200

Toronto janitors take on property moguls:
http://rankandfile.ca/2015/11/11/toronto-janitors-take-on-property-moguls/

Across the Country

Bif Naked, on her experience on BC’s Welfare Diet Challenge. It ain’t pretty:
http://www.straight.com/news/574136/bif-naked-welfare-food-challenge-reveals-classism-vancouver

Solving youth homelessness in BC, one community at a time:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2015/11/09/Solving-Youth-Homelessness/

Refugees in Halifax to get one-year transit passes:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-refugees-to-get-temp-transit-passes-1.3340148

National

Audio: How are Canada’s poor being misrepresented? An academic with lived experience investigates the portrayal of people who are poor in the media and in government:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2678523060

Prime Minister Trudeau commits to a national Poverty Reduction Plan:
http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2015/11/pm-trudeau-commits-to-poverty-plan/?utm_source=hootsuite

Return of the long-form census!
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/05/liberals-restore-mandatory-long-form-census.html

Canada to join G20 effort to limit multinationals’ profit shifting and increase government revenues:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-to-join-g20-effort-to-limit-profit-shifting-by-multinationals/article27261166/

Martha Friendly: A national child care system… “because it’s 2015”:
http://childcarecanada.org/blog/national-child-care-system%E2%80%9Cbecause-it%E2%80%99s-2015%E2%80%9D

Minister to announce plan for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry “shortly”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/missing-indigenous-women-inquiry-carolyn-bennett-1.3311993

Bennett gives Indigenous Affairs department July 1 2017 deadline to deliver results on reconciliation:
http://aptn.ca/news/2015/11/13/bennett-gives-indigenous-affairs-department-july-1-2017-deadline-to-deliver-results-on-reconciliation/

Canada should stop jailing young offenders:
http://www.tillsonburgnews.com/2015/10/30/canada-should-stop-jailing-our-young-offenders

  • Most people in jail today are innocent: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/11/04/most-people-in-jail-today-are-innocent-michael-bryant.html
  • New federal government to review the use of mandatory minimum sentences: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/liberals-will-review-controversial-mandatory-minimums-justice-minister-1.2648279

Canadian Council for Refugees – “Traditionally a leader in welcoming refugees and other newcomers, Canada can and must renew its efforts to protect their rights”:

  • Seven Keys to protecting and welcoming refugees and newcomers: http://ccrweb.ca/en/refugees-newcomers-vision-Canada
  • Key Priorities for the new government: http://ccrweb.ca/en/key-priorities-new-government

Government to fully restore refugee health-care cuts:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thehouse/meet-your-new-government-1.3305229/liberals-to-fully-restore-refugee-health-care-cuts-says-john-mccallum-1.3305978

No, Canada doesn’t spend more on refugees than on pensioners:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2349786/no-canada-doesnt-spend-more-on-refugees-than-pensioners/

International

Trans-Pacific Partnership: The most brazen corporate power grab in American history:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_most_brazen_corporate_power_grab_in_american_history_20151106

Lack of parental leave and early childhood education programs leaves US kids worse off:
http://inthesetimes.com/article/18558/lack_of_parental_leave_early_childhood_education_hurting_american_kids

What’s killing poor white women in the US?:
http://prospect.org/article/whats-killing-poor-white-women

Most UK Tory MPs oppose their government’s tax credit cuts:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/14/tax-credits-cuts-conservative-mps-opposed-stephen-mcpartland

Robert Reich: Friction is now between the global financial elite and the rest of us:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/11/us-uk-politics-economics

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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.