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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: 10 February 2016

February 10, 2016

Top Stories

(Ed. note: we’ll back in the week of February 22!)

Art Eggleton on three ways to end poverty in Canada – education, basic income, and tax reform:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/01/05/three_ways_to_end_poverty_in_canada.html

  • Is Quebec’s promised basic income a Trojan horse for neoliberalism?: https://ricochet.media/en/931/is-quebecs-guaranteed-minimum-income-a-trojan-horse

Most Syrian refugees coming to Canada will live below the poverty line:
https://news.vice.com/article/most-syrian-refugees-coming-to-canada-will-live-below-the-poverty-line

  • Sherad Kerur: Refugees’ needs expose Canada’s housing crisis: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/05/refugees-needs-expose-canadas-housing-crisis.html
  • Canada’s housing sector calls for 100,000 new affordable homes to meet critical need: http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3ab6441cec1986db191b15a35&id=f8345b38e2
  • Anti-poverty activists want $3.2 billion for affordable housing: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/04/anti-poverty-activists-ask-liberals-for-3-2b-in-budget-for-affordable-housing_n_9158628.html?utm_hp_ref=canada-politics&ir=Canada+Politics

Solutions to the housing crisis may be found in an alliance between people who are homeless and newly-arrived refugees:
http://thevolcano.org/2016/02/04/solutions-to-the-housing-crisis-may-be-found-in-alliance-between-homeless-and-refugees/

  • OCAP: Why poor and homeless people should welcome refugees: http://www.ocap.ca/node/4001

Star editorial: Ombudsman should investigate workers’ complaints:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/01/31/investigate-workers-complaints-editorial.html

Activists holding a bake sale to raise money to fund Toronto’s poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/08/toronto-budget-falls-short-of-anti-poverty-pledge-activists-say.html

  • Stapleton: How the City of Toronto took a welfare upload saving of $25 million and only spent $6 million on poverty reduction: http://openpolicyontario.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Honey-I-shrunk-the-Poverty-Strategy.pdf
  • Mayor Tory “proud” of compromise inflationary budget: http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/02/09/mayor-john-tory-stakes-property-tax-hike-position.html

Chrystia Freeland signs Trans-Pacific Partnership deal:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/freeland-tpp-auckland-signing-1.3431631

New OECD study says Canada’s inequality problem is even worse than previously thought:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/oecd_study_the_gap_between_canada_rich_and_poor_is_significantly_bigger_than_previously_thought

Canada lost 5,700 jobs in January; unemployment rate up to 7.2%:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-jobs-economy-1.3435172?cid

 

Ontario

Ontario’s reaction to release of federal transfer entitlements, including $5.1 billion for Canada Social Transfer:
https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2015/12/ontarios-reaction-to-the-federal-governments-release-of-transfer-entitlements-for-2016-17.html

Cohn: Liberals must restore trust on new pension plan:
http://www.ourwindsor.ca/opinion-story/6267073-liberals-must-restore-trust-on-new-pension-plan-cohn/

Cohn: Time to slay the myth of job-killing pension plans:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/02/09/time-to-slay-the-myth-of-job-killing-pension-plans-cohn.html

Hamilton taxpayers footing $820,000 bill for new social assistance software:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-taxpayers-footing-820k-for-new-social-assistance-software-1.3439344

Solitary Confinement: Two case studies and the social assistance income / employment conundrum:
http://metcalffoundation.com/stories/metcalf-stories/solitary-confinement-series/

PFIB: Three recent articles show investment in poverty reduction in Ontario and Toronto is a charade:
http://putfoodinthebudget.nationbuilder.com/showus

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things

Information about class action lawsuit for people who lived at Schedule 1 facilities or institutions in Ontario:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/information-about-class-action-lawsuit-people-who-lived-schedule-1-facilities-or-institutions-o

Falvo: Homelessness in Canada: Its growth, policy responses, and advocacy:
http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2016/02/04/homelessness-in-canada-its-growth-policy-responses-and-advocacy/

Upcoming Spanish-language workshops on sponsorship applications and ODSP / seniors benefits:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/february-10-23-social-assistance-and-immigration-workshops-spanish

 

Around the Province

Brant and Brantford should “knock heads” over flawed implementation of OW/ODSP computer system:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2016/02/03/dismay-over-payment-system-woes

Location and integration of safe injection site in Thunder Bay will be key:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/location-and-integration-of-thunder-bay-safe-injection-site-will-be-key-1.3436597

Advocates looking at provincial subsidies for inter-community bus service in the north:
http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/02/05/working-group-advocates-provincial-subsidies-for-inter-community-bus-service

First Nations find culturally sensitive support at Peel courthouse:
http://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/6267155-first-nations-find-culturally-sensitive-support-at-peel-courthouse/

Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network raising awareness of Registered Disability Savings Plans:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2016/02/05/raising-awareness-of-registered-disability-savings-plan

Mississauga reviewing policies on secondary housing units:
http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6265440-city-reviewing-its-policies-on-second-units/

Orillia’s Coldest Night of the Year participants raising funds for homeless shelter:
http://www.orilliapacket.com/2016/02/08/team-taking-part-in-coldest-night-of-the-year-has-some-first-hand-experience-with-homelessness

Wallaceburg landlord says low-income tenants seeing skyrocketing electricity rates:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2016/02/08/landlord-says-everyone-will-feel-impact-of-high-power-bills

Niagara advocates say basic income could be a “game changer” in the fight against poverty:
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/6268351-basic-guaranteed-income-could-be-game-changer-in-fight-against-poverty/

Rachel Gray: Toronto needs a new approach to funding poverty reduction:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/rachel-gray/poverty-toronto_b_9144136.html

Ryerson students launch project to give people how are homeless a voice:
http://theeyeopener.com/2016/02/rta-students-document-poverty-in-toronto/

Goodwill Toronto files for bankruptcy and loses Goodwill name:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/08/goodwill-toronto-files-for-bankruptcy-loses-goodwill-name.html

  • Goodwill has $800,000 in assets but owes $6 million to creditors: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/09/goodwill-toronto-owes-6-million-documents-show.html
  • CEO wants to stay and fix the problems: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/nakamura-goodwill-1.3439299

Toronto-area taxi drivers prepare to strike next weekend over Mayor Tory’s support for Uber:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/02/08/toronto-area-taxi-drivers-prepare-to-strike-next-weekend.html

 

Across the Country

Alberta posts worst unemployment rate in a decade:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/alberta-posts-worst-unemployment-rate-in-decade-1.2766129

  • Albertans “strategically defaulting” on their mortgages: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/jingle-mail-alberta-housing-1.3430867
  • Premier Notley pushes Trudeau for changes to EI: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/notley-pushes-trudeau-for-ei-changes-1.2762676
  • Globe Editorial: How much help should Ottawa really give to Alberta?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/how-much-help-should-ottawa-really-give-to-alberta/article28597714/
  • 370 laid off people in Calgary attend employment workshop: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/unemployed-workers-attend-calgary-workshop-1.3432768
  • Trudeau’s commitments to Alberta get lukewarm reception from some oilpatch workers: http://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/trudeaus-promises-get-lukewarm-reception-with-some-alberta-oilpatch-workers
  • Alberta Federation of Labour calls on federal government to broaden eligibility for EI: http://www.satprnews.com/2016/02/03/afl-calls-on-pm-to-fix-the-gaps-in-albertas-ei-system/

Alberta promising big push on affordable housing construction and upkeep:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/province-moves-ahead-on-affordable-housing

Exploited tree planters win EI and income tax appeals, race discrimination case, and unpaid wage claims:
http://www.cknw.com/2016/02/03/exploited-treeplanters-win-long-legal-fight-for-employment-insurance/

Pizza Treat for the Street helping to feed people who are homeless in Winnipeg:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pizza-treats-street-crystal-anderson-1.3437883

National

EI wait time may stay at 2 weeks until 2017:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mihychuk-power-politics-employment-insurance-wait-times-2017-1.3425382

Digital divide: CRTC mulling internet subsidies for poor Canadians at telecommunications hearings:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/internet-access-digital-divide-1.3433848

Goar: Youth unemployment finally on the radar at home and abroad:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/08/youth-unemployment-finally-on-the-radar-screen-goar.html

Racism and legal inequality key issues in murdered and missing Indigenous women inquiry:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/racism-legal-inequality-key-issues-in-murdered-and-missing-inquiry-victims-families-say/article28636955/

EI whistleblower seeking justice three years later:
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/01/31/employment-insurance-whistleblower-still-seeking-justice-three-years-later.html

 

International

Global economy not getting better, despite leaders and experts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/global-economy-solutions-1.3435453

How being poor can make you eat more: Children raised in poverty are more likely to overeat as adults:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3431704/How-poor-makes-eat-Children-raised-poverty-likely-overeat-overweight-adults.html

Report shows growing up poor promotes “eating in the absence of hunger” in adulthood:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/afps-epd020316.php

Gallup report shows link between full-time work and poverty in the US:
https://www.aei.org/publication/for-poverty-work-is-more-important-than-wages-but-only-half-of-american-adults-work-full-time/

Why poverty and inequality are bad for business:
http://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/column-why-poverty-and-inequality-are-bad-for-business/article_923fe870-cec9-11e5-8cc3-8b9df9c948f4.html

UK facing a crisis of homelessness among young people:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/09/homelessness-crisis-young-people-housing-benefit-professor-green?CMP=share_btn_fb

Economic growth in the EU doesn’t go hand-in-hand with poverty reduction:
http://neurope.eu/article/eu-economic-growth-doesnt-go-hand-in-hand-with-poverty-reduction/

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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.