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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 10 June 2016

June 10, 2016

Ed. Note: Media & Policy News will be on hiatus until July 8. Have a happy June!

Top Stories

Canadians getting priced out of fresh fruit and vegetables:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/food-inflation-canadians-getting-priced-out-of-fresh-vegetables-fruit-1.2932641

  • Low income and lack of access to groceries creates a “double whammy”: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/healthy-food-cost-thunder-bay-1.3618952
  • Stop trying to solve hunger with corporate food waste: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nick-saul/food-waste-poverty_b_10327320.html

WSIB critics say spending cuts are devastating injured workers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/06/10/inadequate-health-care-devastating-injured-workers-critics-say.html

  • Read the open letter here: http://iavgo.org/day-of-action-on-health-care-open-letter/

Angus Reid poll: Canadians believe there are two sets of rules, one for the rich and one for everyone else:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2743972/panama-papers-canadians-say-there-are-two-sets-of-rules-one-for-the-rich-one-for-everyone-else/

  • House of Commons committee muzzles experts asked to testify about KPMG’s tax avoidance scheme: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpmg-isle-of-man-commons-testimony-1.3622824
  • McQuaig: Different tax rules for wealthy and powerful: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/06/09/different-tax-rules-for-wealthy-and-powerful-mcquaig.html

Beefed up provincial and federal child benefits in Alberta are a poverty game changer:
http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-beefed-up-child-benefits-are-a-poverty-game-changer

Report says Ontario needs strategy to end youth homelessness:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/06/02/ontario-needs-strategy-to-end-youth-homelessness-report.html

Study highlights link between precarious work and ‘miserable’ commutes:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/06/04/study-highlights-link-between-precarious-work-and-miserable-commutes.html

Switzerland says “no” to a basic income for all:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/06/05/swiss-says-no-to-unconditional-basic-income-for-all.html

  • Looking the Basic Income gift horse in the mouth: http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/1241.php
  • Coyne: How a guaranteed minimum income could work in Canada: http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/andew-coyne-how-a-guaranteed-minimum-income-could-work-in-canada

It’s a myth that off-shore workers are taking Canadian jobs:
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2016/06/09/its-a-myth-that-off-shore-workers-are-taking-a-canadian-jobs

 

Ontario

Climate Change Action Plan – Backgrounder on actions to assist low-income households and vulnerable communities:
https://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2016/06/actions-to-assist-low-income-households-and-vulnerable-communities.html

  • ISAC’s submission to support measures to reduce the impact of cap-and-trade: https://news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2016/06/actions-to-assist-low-income-households-and-vulnerable-communities.html
  • NDP says Ontario is wrong to do little for low-income residents: http://saultonline.com/2016/06/liberal-climate-change-plan-wrong-to-leave-behind-low-income-rural-and-northern-families-ndp/
  • Climate change plan announced to mixed reviews: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/06/08/critics-pounce-on-vague-83b-climate-plan.html
  • CCPA: Ontario’s new climate plan needs bigger sticks, more carrots: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/06/10/ontarios-new-climate-plan-needs-bigger-sticks-more-carrots/

Municipal Affairs & Housing Minister Ted McMeekin resigns from Cabinet to help achieve gender parity:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/06/06/ontario-minister-ted-mcmeekin-resigning-from-cabinet-to-help-achieve-gender-parity.html

Ontario Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur resigning from politics:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/09/ontario-attorney-general-madeleine-meilleur-resigning-from-politics.html

Ontario Pension Plan Act changes welcomed:
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2016/06/07/ontario-pension-plan-act-changes-welcomed

Ontario children’s aid societies agree to collect race data:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/06/ontario-childrens-aid-societies-agree-to-collect-race-data.html

ARCH Press release: Amendments to the customer service standard under the AODA a step backward:
http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/node/1130

National Aboriginal History Month celebrations this month in Ontario:
https://news.ontario.ca/maa/en/2016/05/celebrate-national-aboriginal-history-month-this-june.html

New rules on employees’ tips and gratuities start June 10:
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2016/06/ontario-protects-employees-tips-and-gratuities.html

Occupational Health and Safety Act changes coming in July:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/tighter-mine-regulations-1.3622394

Increasing funding for Legal Aid isn’t enough:
http://www.slaw.ca/2016/06/05/increasing-funding-for-legal-aid-is-not-enough/

  • Star editorial: Ottawa must help provinces fix legal aid: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/06/06/ottawa-must-help-provinces-fix-legal-aid-editorial.html

14 bills passed and 7 introduced during spring sitting:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/06/14-bills-passed-and-7-additional-bills-introduced-during-spring-sitting.html

 

Events, Campaigns, Reports, and Other Good Things

Canada’s Disability Tax Credit: Why are the neediest disabled Canadians receiving the least benefit?:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canadas-disability-tax-credit–why-are-the-neediest-disabled-canadians-receiving-the-least-benefit-582351511.html

  • Here’s the report: http://www.policyschool.ucalgary.ca/?q=content/disability-tax-credit-why-it-fails-and-how-fix-it

New Metcalf Foundation report: “Canada’s Choice: Decent work or entrenched exploitation for Canada’s migrant workers”:
http://metcalffoundation.com/stories/publications/canadas-choice/

New IRPP research program: “Canada’s changing federal community”:
http://irpp.org/research/canadas-changing-federal-community/?mc_cid=075f061b16&mc_eid=93c40f0305

Poll results: Most Canadians support action to get broadband to all households:
http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f7dda22184bee7fac707500ef&id=b3dd8cd17b&e=9e305f90ee

 

Around the Province

Sudbury column: It’s time to invest in poverty reduction:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2016/06/07/sudbury-column-time-to-act-on-poverty-reduction?platform=hootsuite

Video: Hunger is happening in London:
http://london.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=880647

Funds earmarked for four social programs in Muskoka:
http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/6712949-funds-earmarked-for-four-social-programs-in-muskoka/

Muskoka Circles initiative to launch in fall 2016:
http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/6713553-muskoka-circles-poverty-reduction-initiative-to-launch-in-fall-2016/

Toronto house prices up 15.7% in May:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/06/03/toronto-house-prices-up-157-in-may.html

Toronto landlords appeal to tenants to stop apartment licensing:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/06/04/landlords-appeal-to-tenants-to-stop-apartment-licensing.html

Food insecurities addressed at Quinte poverty roundtable:
http://www.quintenews.com/2016/06/food-insecurities-addressed-poverty-round-table/118355/

Man declared a tenant under the Residential Tenancy Act, requiring more responsibility from landlord for him and other residents:
http://www.thewhig.com/2016/06/07/man-declared-a-tenant

 

Across the Country

Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak action plan seeks to growth northern First Nations’ economies:
http://www.thompsoncitizen.net/news/nickel-belt/mko-action-plan-seeks-to-grow-northern-first-nations-economies-1.2268886

Saskatchewan moving people off social assistance and into training:
http://leaderpost.com/news/politics/province-moving-people-off-social-assistance

Poverty reduction coalition hit by Saskatchewan government cuts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/ric-cuts-sask-education-1.3616043

Column: Saskatchewan budget penalizes vulnerable workers:
http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/sask-party-budget-penalizes-vulnerable-workers

Ten things to know about a $15 minimum wage in Alberta:
http://www.parklandinstitute.ca/ten_things_to_know_about_a_15_minimum_wage_in_alberta

PEI launches new employment website:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-employment-website-1.3614914

PEI family doctors get toolkit to help patients in poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/poverty-toolkit-doctors-p-e-i-1.3621432

Nova Scotia casual employees of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada still not paid:
http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2016-06-07/article-4552652/Citizenship-workers-say-they-haven%26rsquo%3Bt-been-paid/1

Story from the street: Homeless and alone in Chilliwack, BC:
http://www.theprogress.com/news/381827371.html

The number of people who are homeless in Vancouver is rising and more young people are homeless:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/homeless-people-in-vancouver-numbers-are-rising-ages-are-dropping/article30279251/

Mayor says Vancouver’s economy is at risk due to housing prices:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/gregor-robertson-luxury-tax-flipping-tax-1.3617636

BC eyes more housing for people who are homeless, in a push to shut Victoria’s tent city:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-eyes-more-housing-for-homeless-in-push-to-shut-victorias-tent-city

BC lags in making Hydro affordable for people with low incomes:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/06/06/BC-Lags-Making-Hydro-Affordable/

Alberta says South African firefighters will be compensated in accordance with labour laws:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmonton/rachel-notley-alberta-firefighter-south-africa-1.3625499

 

National

Immigration minister McCallum prefers a path to permanent residency for temporary foreign workers:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/139933/canada-seriously-looking-at-permanent-status-path-for-tfws

Here’s why the EI system is not working and what can be done:
http://rabble.ca/news/2016/05/heres-why-ei-system-not-working-and-what-can-be-done

Canada’s unemployment rate falls unexpectedly:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/06/10/canadas-unemployment-rate-falls-unexpectedly.html

Will 18-month parental leave reduce pressures on working families?:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/news/will-18-month-parental-leave-reduce-the-pressures-on-families-82317

Ottawa slammed on First Nations funding for child welfare, suicide prevention:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2752524/ottawa-slammed-on-first-nations-funding-for-child-welfare-suicide-prevention/

Toronto home prices soar as fears of “the B-word” mount in Vancouver:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/toronto-home-prices-soar-as-fears-of-the-b-word-mount-in-vancouver/article30257082/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globefb

  • Vancouver and Toronto at rising risk of housing correction, Poloz warns: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/bank-of-canada-financial-system-review/article30363984/?click=sf_globefb

Federal government boosts national legal aid programs:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/08/ottawa-boosts-funding-to-national-legal-aid-programs.html

  • Press release: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/government-ensuring-access-to-justice-through-increased-legal-aid-support-2132602.htm
  • Women left out of federal money for legal aid: Lawyers: http://globalnews.ca/news/2752556/women-left-out-of-federal-money-for-legal-aid-lawyers/
  • No direct federal funds for civil legal aid: http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/6716142-no-direct-federal-funds-for-civil-legal-aid/

Canada’s top judge says Canadian society today is more just than it once was:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/06/03/canadian-society-today-is-a-more-just-society-than-it-once-was-top-judge-says.html

 

International

The IMF is starting to think that “neoliberalism” has created an inequality problem:
http://uk.businessinsider.com/imf-employees-write-article-questioning-the-effectiveness-of-neoliberal-economics-2016-5

  • The wages of neoliberalism: Poverty, exile and early death: http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/06/07/the-wages-of-neoliberalism-poverty-exile-and-early-death/

UK report shows welfare benefit cuts create barriers to finding work:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jun/05/docking-welfare-payments-is-not-incentive-to-work-report-claims

Homeless protesters in Melbourne, AU say they’re not moving until housing is provided for all:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/homeless-protesters-say-they-are-not-moving-until-housing-is-provided-20160529-gp6mns.html

Australian man on hunger strike over cashless welfare card privacy issues:
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/kununurra-man-daniel-taylor-on-hunger-strike-over-cashless-welfare-card/news-story/e4af75df3428217cd616bb17164ad850

How a giant US restaurant conglomerate teamed up with banks to stiff its workers:
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2016/05/12/3777607/darden-restaurants-payroll-cards/

American families that can’t afford summer:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/06/05/sunday-review/the-families-that-cant-afford-summer.html

The many lives of a New York SRO:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/05/nyregion/the-many-lives-of-a-new-york-sro.html

Which industries are being too greedy to pay Americans fairly?:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/ask-the-headhunter-which-industries-are-being-too-greedy-to-pay-you-fairly/

Republican House Speaker’s anti-poverty plan “looks more like an agenda for creating poverty”:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/06/elizabeth-warren-rips-paul-ryans-poverty-plan

Two decades after “welfare to work”, many Americans can find neither:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/moneybox/2016/06/_welfare_to_work_resulted_in_neither_welfare_nor_work_for_many_americans.html

The welfare quiz: How well do you understand one of the most sweeping legislative changes in the US in the past 20 years?:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/moneybox/2016/06/how_much_do_you_know_about_welfare.html

A guaranteed income for every American:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-guaranteed-income-for-every-american-1464969586

A universal basic income is no solution to US poverty:
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2016-06-03/a-universal-basic-income-wouldnt-reduce-poverty

UK union backs campaign for unconditional basic income:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/gmb-union-supports-unconditional-basic-income-to-help-eradicate-poverty-34775957.html

Addictions are harder to kick when you’re poor. Here’s why:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/01/drug-addiction-income-inequality-impacts-recovery

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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.