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Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 1 December 2017

December 1, 2017

Sorry for the long hiatus. Hopefully workload will allow more regular updates in future! – Ed.

Top Stories

Income Security Reform: A Roadmap for Change

Proposed welfare reform plan includes 22% boost to payments:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/02/proposed-welfare-reform-plan-includes-21-boost-to-payments.html

On welfare reform, Ontario urged to “just do it”:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/02/proposed-welfare-reform-plan-includes-21-boost-to-payments.html

Editorial: Ontario should move quickly on welfare benefits:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/11/04/ontario-should-move-quickly-on-welfare-benefits-editorial.html

Panel recommends public drug, dental benefits for low-income Ontarians:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/news/panel-recommends-public-drug-dental-coverage-for-low-income-ontarians-105854

Op-Ed: It’s time Ontario adopted this Roadmap for Change:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7914568-it-s-time-ontario-adopted-this-roadmap-for-change/

Province is promising action on poverty:
https://www.catholicregister.org/item/26346-province-is-promising-action-on-poverty

Op-Ed: There is a prescription for poverty’s punishing impact on health in Ontario:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2017/11/14/there-is-a-prescription-for-povertys-punishing-impact-on-health-in-ontario.html

Government needs to act quickly on poverty report:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7961201-government-needs-to-act-quickly-on-poverty-report/

Hamilton anti-poverty activists demand government increase social assistance rates:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7964558-hamilton-anti-poverty-activists-demand-government-increase-social-assistance-rates/

  • Government bulletin: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2017/11/working-groups-deliver-roadmap-for-income-security-reform.html
  • Link to the report: https://www.ontario.ca/page/income-security-reform

Government is looking for feedback by January 5: https://www.ontario.ca/page/income-security-reform#section-5

  • ISAC’s Backgrounder and Feedback Kit – Tools you can use to have your voice heard: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/a-roadmap-for-change-tools-you-can-use-to-have-your-voice-heard/

WEBINAR – We’re hosting an info webinar about the Roadmap on Friday, December 8 at 10:30am:

  • Sign up here: https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=opvcclvu9d&campaign=oef7gux30fj0 

National Housing Strategy

Justin Trudeau’s plan to make housing great again:
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/justin-trudeaus-plan-to-make-housing-great-again/

ACTO News Release: Canada responds to years of pressure from community advocates by recognizing housing as a human right:
https://righttohousing.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/canada-responds-to-years-of-pressure-from-community-advocates-by-recognizing-housing-as-a-human-right/

Ready and Waiting: It’s time for a rights-based housing strategy in Canada:
https://www.acto.ca/ready-and-waiting-its-time-for-a-rights-based-housing-strategy-in-canada/?platform=hootsuite

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness: Can a National Housing Strategy prevent homelessness?
http://mailchi.mp/edu/can-a-national-housing-strategy-prevent-homelessness-in-canada?e=6da7d6f883

Average rent for 2-bedroom apartment in Canada hits $989, up 2.7% in past year:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cmhc-apartment-renting-1.4422568?cmp=rss

Rental vacancy rates in the GTA lowest in 16 years:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/28/rental-vacancy-rates-lowest-in-16-years.html

New initiative to boost purpose built rental development:
http://www.mortgagebrokernews.ca/news/new-initiative-to-boost-purpose-built-rental-development-234746.aspx

Ontario Association of Food Banks report

Ontario sees rise in single-person households using food banks:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/oafb-hunger-report-1.4418997

Food bank use continues to rise:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/food-bank-use-continues-to-rise/article_547d2ce6-d453-11e7-a783-2b3fe63b639d.html

Food bank use pushed by costly housing, social assistance shortfall: Report:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/hunger-report-2017-ontario-food-banks-1.4418302

A closer look at the food issue in Waterloo:
https://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/7970655-a-closer-look-at-the-food-issue-in-our-region/

Food bank use up in Sudbury: Report:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/11/28/food-bank-use-up-in-sudbury-report

News release: Almost 500,000 Ontarians needed a food bank last year due to rising cost of housing and insufficient social assistance rates:
https://righttohousing.wordpress.com/2017/11/24/canada-responds-to-years-of-pressure-from-community-advocates-by-recognizing-housing-as-a-human-right/

  • Link to the OAFB Hunger Report: https://oafb.ca/hunger-report/

Campaign 2000 report cards

Release: 2017 report card calls for federal leadership to build a poverty-free Canada:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/2017-report-card-calls-for-federal-leadership-to-build-a-poverty-free-canada-659038013.html

Ontario urged to make ending child poverty an election issue:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/21/ontario-urged-to-make-ending-child-poverty-an-election-issue.html

Manitoba gets failing grade for “nightmare” rates of child poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/child-poverty-report-card-manitoba-1.4412431

No explanation for failure to address poverty in Manitoba:
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/no-explanation-for-failure-to-address-poverty-460196783.html

BC’s Cariboo Chilcotin child poverty rate 23.2%
https://www.wltribune.com/news/cariboo-chilcotin-child-poverty-rate-23-2-per-cent/

Little change to child poverty in BC:
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/11/21/Little-Change-Child-Poverty-in-BC/

Coalition pushes for action on poverty for 4.8 million Canadians:
https://www.catholicregister.org/item/26413-coalition-pushes-for-action-on-poverty-for-4-8-million-canadians

PEI report card: Elected officials are out of touch:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/opinion–elected-officials-out-of-touch-165494/

  • Look for report cards here: https://campaign2000.ca/

Basic Income

Ontario seeks more applicants for basic income pilot:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/basic-income-pilot-applications-1.4418448

Province tries new tactic to get Hamiltonians involved in basic income pilot project:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3888036/province-tries-new-tactic-to-get-hamiltonians-involved-in-basic-income-pilot-project/

ABC News: Canada tests “basic income” effect on poverty amid lost jobs:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/canada-tests-basic-income-effect-poverty-amid-lost-51450495

Note: This Associated Press article was also published by CNBC, CTV, The Guardian and the Toronto Star

Canadian province trials basic income for thousands of residents:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canada-universal-basic-income-ontario-trial-citizens-residents-poverty-unemployment-benefits-a8082576.html

Bill 148

Government release: Ontario’s legislation to create fair workplaces and better jobs receives Royal Assent:
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2017/11/ontarios-legislation-to-create-fair-workplaces-and-better-jobs-receives-royal-assent.html

Sweeping changes to Ontario workplace law: Fair Workplaces Better Jobs Act passed by legislature:
https://www.stikeman.com/en-ca/kh/canadian-employment-labour-pension-law/Sweeping-Changes-to-Ontario-Workplace-Law-Fair-Workplaces-Better-Jobs-Act

Bill 148 receives royal assent, significantly altering labour and employment laws in Ontario:
http://www.casselsbrock.com/CBNewsletter/Bill_148_Receives_Royal_Assent__Significantly_Altering_Labour_and_Employment_Laws_in_Ontario

Election 2018: A battle over #Fightfor15:
http://www.brockpress.com/2017/11/election-2018-a-battle-over-fightfor15/

Wynne’s tiny tax cut won’t save small businesses from $15 minimum wage:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/john-laforet/wynnes-tiny-tax-cut-wont-save-small-businesses-from-15-minimum-wage_a_23290708/

Get ready to pay more as Windsor-Essex businesses prepare for minimum wage hike:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/get-ready-to-pay-more-as-windsor-essex-businesses-prepare-for-minimum-wage-hike-1.4427476

Wage hike may hurt North, says Northern Ontario Party:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/11/26/wage-hike-may-hurt-north-nop

London’s plans to offset minimum wage hike:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/city-treasurer-cost-minimum-wage-hikes-1.4421234

Mississauga business community still not sold on Ontario minimum wage increase:
https://www.mississauga.com/news-story/7962538-mississauga-business-community-still-not-sold-on-ontario-minimum-wage-increase/

$15 minimum wage will be a boon to our economy:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7968560–15-minimum-wage-will-be-a-boon-for-our-economy/

Other top stories

Metro Morning: Food insecurity: Are food bank fundraisers helpful?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/food-insecurity-1.4424262

$175 million in federal money for working poor goes unclaimed:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/working-income-low-poor-canada-revenue-agency-tax-benefits-1.4423280

Province to cover daycare fee hikes due to wage bump:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/24/province-to-cover-daycare-fee-hikes-due-to-wage-bump.html

Penalties when workers die on the job don’t go far enough, say labour groups, families:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/workplace-fatalities-penalties-1.4421240

Single mom has battled the Canada Revenue Agency for six months over Canada Child Benefit eligibility:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/single-mom-says-she-s-battled-the-cra-for-6-months-over-child-benefit-with-no-result-1.4421997

Live at a tony address? Taxman targeting Canada’s richest neighbourhoods to nab tax cheats:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tax-offshore-havens-canada-revenue-agency-postal-code-project-avoidance-wealthy-1.4416295

“Our collective shame”: Trudeau delivers historic apology to LGBTQ2S Canadians:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/homosexual-offences-exunge-records-1.4422546

 

Ontario

December and January payment dates for OW and ODSP:
http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/index.aspx

What do I owe? Hydro One unveils simplified electricity bills:
https://www.therecord.com/news-story/7972043–what-do-i-owe-hydro-one-unveils-simplified-electricity-bills/

Ontario courts looking to move beyond the fax machine era: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/29/ontario-courts-looking-to-move-beyond-the-fax-machine-era.html

Government release: Ontario launches new tool to check if prescriptions are covered with OHIP+:
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2017/11/ontario-launches-new-tool-to-check-if-prescriptions-are-covered-with-ohip.html

Government release: Ontario adds 43,500 jobs in November:
https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2017/12/ontario-adds-43500-jobs-in-november.html

 

Ontario Election 2018

Ontario PCs “People’s Guarantee” policy document:
https://www.ontariopc.ca/peoples_guarantee

  • PC child-care numbers don’t add up, critics say: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/29/pc-child-care-numbers-dont-add-up-critics-say.html
  • Patrick Brown answers nagging question: What would he do as premier?: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/patrick-brown-campaign-starts-1.4421535

Ontario NDP’s “Vision for Ontario”:
https://www.ontariondp.ca/vision

  • From April: NDP outlines sweeping priorities in 2017 “vision for Ontario document”:
    https://ipolitics.ca/2017/04/19/ndp-outlines-sweeping-priorities-in-2017-vision-for-ontario-document/

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Province-wide Injured Workers Outreach Blitz: Support the struggle for a fair WSIB:
https://www.facebook.com/events/526224984404754/

Stats Can: Labour in Canada: Key results from the 2016 Census:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171129/dq171129b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Labour force survey, November 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171201/dq171201a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Income and mobility of immigrants, 2015:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171127/dq171127a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, Sept 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171130/dq171130b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

December 4: What the papers say: Research and reporting on workers’ compensation in the precarious economy:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/what-the-papers-say-research-and-reporting-on-workers-compensation-tickets-39706922474

December 12 / 13: Two day ODSP Action Coalition Community Assembly for people on ODSP and service providers in Scarborough:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/odsp-action-coalition-scarborough-community-assembly-registration-39885280949?aff=ebdsorderfblightbox

Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://mailchi.mp/edu/yellowknifes-plan-to-end-homelessness-2883405?e=6da7d6f883

Mike Babcock: Mental illness has “nothing to do” with mental toughness:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7967332–hamiltonforall-campaign-to-make-city-more-welcoming-to-newcomers/#.Whz-8qjOiao.twitter

How big a threat is household debt to Canada’s economy? We’ll learn more this week:
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/canadas-debt-problem-gets-helping-hand-from-economic-boom-1

 

Around the Province

A penniless Scarborough woman becomes a voice for Canada’s poor:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/opinion-story/7915270-edges-of-toronto-a-penniless-woman-becomes-a-voice-for-canada-s-poor/

#HamiltonforAll campaign to make city more welcoming to newcomers:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/7967332–hamiltonforall-campaign-to-make-city-more-welcoming-to-newcomers/#.Whz-8qjOiao.twitter

Nutritious food unaffordable for too many Hamiltonians:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7970833-nutritious-food-unaffordable-for-too-many-hamiltonians/

$1.3 million being spent in London on poverty reduction programs:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3879976/ontario-government-spending-1-3m-on-london-poverty-reduction-programs/

Toronto budget balanced on hot housing market but omits programs for improved transit, poverty reduction:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/11/30/toronto-budget-balanced-on-hot-housing-market-but-omits-programs-for-improved-transit-poverty-reduction.html

Food banks and soup kitchens not solving food insecurity problem – North Bay panel:
http://www.nugget.ca/2017/12/01/food-banks-soup-kitchens-not-solving-food-insecurity-problem—panel

Healthy food for a month would put some low-income Londoners in debt: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/healthy-groceries-debt-1.4416922

 

Across the Country

City of Edmonton launches online tool to help residents access government benefits:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3883996/edmonton-benefits-tax-credit-refund-support-government-online-tool/

“A cut to the most vulnerable”: Day program for disabled adults in Quebec drops older clients:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/a-cut-to-the-most-vulnerable-day-program-for-disabled-adults-drops-older-clients-1.4407806

Rising numbers of people on PEI claim they are homeless:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/rising-number-of-people-on-pei-claim-they-are-homeless-165916/

Homelessness continues to underline poverty in Cape Breton:
http://www.capebretonpost.com/opinion/jim-guy-homelessness-continues-to-underline-poverty-in-cape-breton-166199/

BC workers seeking $15 an hour minimum wage tell of struggles:
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/workers-seeking-15-an-hour-minimum-wage-tell-of-struggles-1.23108629

Newest data shows poverty on the rise in NL, but critics say it’s worse than indicated:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/poverty-data-stats-gathering-place-1.4419800

Parents urged to file taxes to get Alberta Child Benefit:
http://morinvillenews.com/2017/11/27/parents-urged-to-file-taxes-to-get-alberta-child-benefit/

Saskatoon landlord registry would protect vulnerable renters, non-profit says:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/landlord-registry-would-protect-vulnerable-renters-non-profit-says

 

National

Autism group calls on CRA to make applying for disability tax credit easier:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/autism-group-calls-on-cra-to-make-applying-for-disability-tax-credit-easier-1.3701665

Immigration minister vows to change the law that bars immigrants with disabilities and illnesses:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/11/22/federal-government-urged-to-scrap-ban-on-immigrants-with-disabilities-and-illnesses.html

New mortgage stress tests could disqualify 10% of buyers: Bank of Canada:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/new-mortgage-stress-tests-could-disqualify-10-of-buyers-bank-of-canada/article37109981/?click=sf_globefb

 

International

UK faces longest fall in living standards on record:
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-11-23/u-k-faces-longest-fall-in-living-standards-since-records-began

UK’s George Osborne wants money to fight the poverty he caused? He has no shame:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/30/george-osborne-poverty-chancellor

It’s time for the world’s wealthiest to stop hiding their profits and start paying their taxes:
https://www.alternet.org/economy/time-end-fiscal-impunity

Minimum wage hike or tax cut: What’s the best way to get money into low-income Australian earners’ pockets:
https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/27-11-2017/minimum-wage-hike-or-tax-cut-whats-the-best-way-to-get-money-into-low-income-earners-pockets/

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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.