Income Security Advocacy Centre

ISAC works to address issues of income security and poverty in Ontario

Media & Policy News: 10 March 2017

Top Stories

International Women’s Day – March 8

Ontario Works and ODSP aren’t enough to live on, Toronto residents say:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7167836-ontario-works-and-odsp-aren-t-enough-to-live-on-toronto-residents-say/

No firm estimates on costs to raise a family proving a problem for government: Report:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/no-firm-estimates-on-costs-to-raise-a-family-proving-a-problem-for-government-report-1.3313816

Alternative Federal Budget 2017: High Stakes, Clear Choices:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/afb2017

The problem with $47 billion in unpaid taxes: Opinion:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/03/07/the-problem-with-47-billion-in-unpaid-taxes-opinion.html

Further changes to Canada Pension Plan will have to wait, Bill Morneau says:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/03/02/further-changes-to-canada-pension-plan-will-have-to-wait-bill-morneau-says.html

Provincial Liberals kill bill that would have directed child-care cash to non-profit centres:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/02/liberals-kill-bill-that-would-have-directed-child-care-cash-to-non-profit-centres.html

Why did it take this woman an entire year to get paid?
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/07/why-did-it-take-this-woman-an-entire-year-to-get-paid.html

‘Inadequate and unsafe’ Inuit housing needs national fix, say senators:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/north/senate-housing-report-inuit-nunangat-1.4004487

Region of Peel tax time campaign helps low-income residents boost their benefits:
http://www.peelregion.ca/news/archiveitem.asp?year=2017&month=2&day=2&file=201722.xml

UN Envoy: Housing should be seen as a human right, not a commodity:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/28/luxury-real-estate-housing-crisis-un-homelessness

Ottawa should take a step towards pharmacare: Editorial:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/02/27/ottawa-should-take-a-step-towards-pharmacare-editorial.html

Canada’s sharing economy is growing – but should we really call it “sharing”?
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/statistics-canada-sharing-economy-1.4004993

Ontario hydro:

 

Ontario

Time for Ontario to ban predatory payday loan operators:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/03/03/time-for-ontario-to-ban-predatory-payday-loan-operators-opinion.html

Ontario funds financial empowerment services and free tax clinics:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/ontario-financial-empowerment-funding-1.4013955

Ontario to tackle systemic racism through three-year strategic plan:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7177727-ontario-to-tackle-systemic-racism-through-three-year-strategic-plan/

Government release: Toronto company convicted of failing to obey orders to pay wages:
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2017/03/toronto-company-convicted-of-failing-to-obey-orders-to-pay-wages.html

Government release: Ontario adds 4600 jobs in February:
https://news.ontario.ca/medg/en/2017/03/ontario-adds-4600-jobs-in-february.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Public feedback sought on improving access to justice for families:
https://news.ontario.ca/mag/en/2017/03/improving-access-to-justice-for-families.html

Latest Homeless Hub newsletter:
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=61233be4a0bcc87d8977b631e&id=32bb1e0f72&e=6da7d6f883

Canadians for Public Justice offering a 2017-2018 paid public justice internship:
http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=a90945b6cbae71eebd4485b0b&id=ab206bc439&e=9276d85427

CLEO’s On the Radar: Hours of work a breaks: Workers’ rights and responsibilities:
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=acaece29df8d07c95ef84a763&id=2d8da853b2

Stats Can: Employer pension plans (trusteed pension funds), third quarter 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170308/dq170308e-eng.htm

Stats Can: Population estimates: Subprovincial areas, July 1, 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170308/dq170308d-eng.htm

The problem with that equity vs. equality graphic you’re using:
http://culturalorganizing.org/the-problem-with-that-equity-vs-equality-graphic/

 

Around the Province

Mike Kirlew, the doctor-advocate fighting for better Indigenous health care:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/03/05/mike-kirlew-the-doctor-advocate-fighting-for-better-indigenous-health-care.html

Vale shutting down Stobie Mine in Sudbury:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/vale-shuts-down-stobie-1.4018989

Queen’s University far from Canada’s “best employer”:
http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2017-03-06/opinions/queens-university-far-from-canadas-best-employer/

Opinion in Brantford and Brant divided on Basic Income: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2017/03/05/opinion-divided-on-basic-income

TTC expands Wheel-Trans to include people with cognitive, sensory, or mental health disabilities:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/07/ttc-expands-wheel-trans-eligibility-to-include-people-with-cognitive-sensory-or-mental-health-disabilities.html

Vulnerable women in Toronto find a safe haven at Sistering:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/05/vulnerable-women-in-toronto-find-a-safe-haven-at-sistering.html

Parkdale food hub pushes back against gentrification:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/parkdale-food-hub-pushes-back-against-gentrification/

Aboriginal elders work with officers to build bridges between Toronto police and people who are homeless:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/walkabout-elder-outreach-1.4012191

Toronto moves forward with plan to target bad landlords:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/city-rental-bylaws-1.4012048?cmp=rss

Can anything be done to cool Toronto’s hot rental market?:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/can-anything-be-done-to-cool-toronto-s-hot-rental-market-1.4005863

Circles Canada launches program in Simcoe County:
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/new-program-launched-to-help-break-the-cycle-of-poverty-551855

Local Poverty Reduction Fund grant used to support the three Simcoe programs:
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2017/03/03/poverty-reduction-partnership

 

Across the Country

Minister defends no BC welfare rate increase in 10 years:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/minister-defends-no-b-c-welfare-rate-increase-in-10-years-1.4006540

$5 transit passes are door-openers for low-income Calgarians, advocate says:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/sliding-scale-transit-pass-1.4014180

Saskatoon United Way’s Tampon Tuesday program highlights women’s poverty:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/tampon-donations-highlight-female-poverty

Iqaluit soup kitchen, Inclusion Café, in demand, outgrowing space:
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674iqaluit_soup_kitchen_inclusion_cafe_in_demand_outgrowing_space/

Meet the Montreal optician on a radical mission to make glasses affordable for everyone:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/water-on-first-nations-reserves-islam-and-isis-prison-poem-pricey-glasses-heather-o-neill-1.4005479/meet-the-montreal-optician-on-a-radical-mission-to-make-glasses-affordable-for-everyone-1.4005488

Nova Scotia human rights commission dismisses special diet allowance complaint but urges province to take action:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/special-diet-discrimination-social-assistance-1.4009286

Minimum wage consultations coming up in Happy Valley – Goose Bay:
http://www.thelabradorian.ca/news/local/2017/3/6/minimum-wage-consultations-coming-up-in-happy-valley-goose-bay.html

 

National

Here’s why health care funds for First Nations children aren’t being spent:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/first-nations-health-care-1.4007404?cmp=rss

Canadian Human Rights Commission guidelines on accommodating workers with addiction issues:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/01/new-guidelines-help-accommodate-workers-with-addiction-issues.html

Do you have job security while on maternity leave?:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/leadership-lab/do-you-have-job-security-while-on-maternity-leave/article34235116/

Refugee advocates worry Canada will push US for border crackdown:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/03/07/refugee-advocates-worry-canada-will-push-us-for-border-crackdown.html

Housing starts, permits rise again as Canadian market stays hot:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/the-market/canada-housing-starts-inch-higher-in-february-cmhc/article34237473/

New home construction picks up, offering latest evidence of economic momentum:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2017/03/08/pace-of-new-home-construction-picks-up-in-february-especially-in-ontario-cmhc.html

Canadian pension funds can help rebuild US, says Trump transition official:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/canadian+pension+funds+help+rebuild+says+trump+transition+official/13015234/story.html

 

International

Basic income isn’t just a nice idea. It’s a “birthright”:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/mar/04/basic-income-birthright-eliminating-poverty

Utopian Thinking: The easy way to eradicate poverty:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/06/utopian-thinking-poverty-universal-basic-income

Stealing to eat: London’s hungry criminalised for taking waste food from supermarket bins:
http://www.thelondoneconomic.com/tle-pick/stealing-eat-londons-hungry-criminalised-taking-waste-food-supermarket-bins/03/03/

Women bearing 86% of austerity burden, UK Commons figures reveal:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/09/women-bearing-86-of-austerity-burden-labour-research-reveals

It will never be morally right to pay those with learning disabilities below the minimum wage:
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/rosa-monckton-disability-minimum-wage-charity-spectator-a7609231.html

Why new minimum wage hikes in the US are under threat:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/opinions/lawsuits-against-minimum-wage-increase-schleifer/

Jason Chaffetz’s iPhone comment revives the ‘poverty is a choice’ argument:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/03/07/jason-chaffetzs-iphone-comment-revives-the-poverty-is-a-choice-argument/?utm_term=.0dbd7c229476

Laziness isn’t why people are poor, and iPhones aren’t why they lack health care:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/03/08/laziness-isnt-why-people-are-poor-and-iphones-arent-why-they-lack-health-care/

Poor people “just don’t want health care,” says US Republican congressman:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/03/09/poor-people-just-dont-want-health-care-says-republican-congressman.html

Drug screening bill for Nebraska welfare recipients hits resistance:
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/nebraska/articles/2017-03-02/drug-screening-bill-for-welfare-recipients-hits-resistance

Rents and minimum wage income in the US’s largest cities:
http://cepr.net/blogs/cepr-blog/rents-and-minimum-wage-income-in-the-u-s-s-largest-cities

Italy creates new monthly benefit intended to tackle poverty: Five key points:
https://www.thelocal.it/20170309/italy-passes-law-to-tackle-poverty-five-key-points

Barcelona’s lost voices: The rise of homelessness in Barcelona:
http://www.spanishnews.es/20170307-barcelonas-lost-voices-the-rise-of-the-homeless-in-barcelona-5013/