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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 13 January 2017

January 13, 2017

Top Stories

Doctors frustrated workers’ compensation boards seem to ignore medical opinions, report says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/09/doctors-frustrated-workers-compensation-boards-seem-to-ignore-medical-opinions-report-says.html

Tax loopholes that bankroll CEO salaries with taxpayer’s money should be closed:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dennis-howlett/ceo-salaries-tax-loopholes_b_13974124.html

  • Star editorial: Economic challenges test Trudeau’s promise of more progressive path: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/01/09/economic-challenges-test-trudeaus-promise-of-more-progressive-path-editorial.html
  • Liberals to close tax loopholes for the rich, Trudeau says:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/01/12/liberals-to-close-tax-loopholes-for-the-rich-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-says.html
  • Take action on Trudeau’s promise to close the stock options tax loophole: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/action/keep-your-promise-close-stock-option-tax-loophole

Federal government ponders creating new housing benefit for low-income renters:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/federal-government-ponders-creating-new-housing-benefit-for-low-income-renters-1.3237821

  • Yale First Nation in BC partners with modular building company for new affordable, green homes:
    https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/01/09/First-Nation-Active-Passive-Housing/

Family, friends question why Saskatoon woman froze to death:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-woman-questions-froze-death-1.3931273?cmp=abfb

What should be done to make Ontario electricity rates more affordable:
http://canadafactcheck.ca/reducing-ontario-electricity-rates/

  • Why does Ontario’s electricity cost so much? A reality check: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-does-electricity-cost-so-much-in-ontario/article33453270/?click=sf_globefb
  • Some info about the role of renewable energy: http://www.100reontario.org/faq.php
  • Financial Accountability Officer’s report has stats on spending by consumers on energy by energy type and income: http://www.fao-on.org/web/default/files/commentaries/1618%20home%20energy%20regional/Home%20Energy%20Spending%20Regional.pdf
  • Hydro cost complaint to Premier Wynne sparks online uproar: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/windsor/hydro-costs-windsor-plea-1.3931530

CBC’s The Current: Ontario considers the benefits of basic minimum income:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-january-6-2016-1.3923883/ontario-considers-the-benefits-of-basic-minimum-income-1.3923916

  • Kingston basic income consultation this past Monday: Minister Ballard says basic income is part of the poverty debate: http://www.thewhig.com/2017/01/09/basic-income-part-of-poverty-debate
  • Kingston consultation: Local MPP says the issue is very complex: http://www.thewhig.com/2017/01/08/group-seeks-views-on-basic-income-pilot-project
  • Kingston: Pilot program aims to help those living in poverty: http://www.ckwstv.com/2017/01/09/142145/
  • Sault Ste. Marie consultation: Basic income discussion set for next week: http://www.saultstar.com/2017/01/10/poverty-reduction-discussions-set-for-sault
  • Kenora consultation: Consultation set for January 17: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2017/01/09/public-consultation-on-basic-income-pilot-in-kenora-on-jan-17
  • ISAC and ODSP Action Coalition: Basic Income consultations: Key Issues for people on OW and ODSP: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/basic-income-pilot-consultations-key-issues-for-people-on-ow-and-odsp/
  • Ontario to test a guaranteed basic income, but which town will be the guinea pig?: http://www.cantechletter.com/2017/01/ontario-test-guaranteed-basic-income-town-will-guinea-pig/
  • Smiths Falls residents demand support from local councillors to be basic income pilot site: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/basic-income-smiths-falls-1.3928610
  • Greater Sudbury interested in taking part as pilot project site: https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/city-interested-in-basic-income-pilot-project-506448
  • Andrew Coyne: The basics of a guaranteed basic income: http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/andrew-coyne-the-basics-of-a-guaranteed-basic-income
  • John A. Macdonald would have supported a basic income policy: http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/7058890-john-a-macdonald-would-have-supported-a-basic-income-policy/
  • Public conversation on basic income set for Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia:
    http://thechronicleherald.ca/valleyharvester/1430961-poverty-%E2%80%98it%E2%80%99s-a-growing-national-conversation%E2%80%99
  • Basic Income: Progressive dreams meet neoliberal realities: http://rankandfile.ca/2017/01/12/basic-income-progressive-dreams-meet-neoliberal-realities/

Overwhelming interest from Ottawa residents in non-profit alternative to payday loans:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/causeway-financial-fund-alternative-payday-loans-1.3925469

Full-time work declined in 2016: Statistics Canada report:
http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/full-time-work-faded-in-2016-statistics-canada-1.3230076

Politudes: Proposal for a Canadian National Goal for Poverty Reduction:
https://politudes.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/proposal-for-a-canadian-national-goal-for-poverty-reduction-2017-2027/

Migrant worker wins human rights case over his firing:
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20170113/281586650289881

McGill course teaches law students Indigenous legal traditions:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/mcgill-university-law-students-indigenous-legal-1.3930600

Trudeau shuffles the federal cabinet – here’s the new list:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/justin-trudeau-cabinet-list-2017/article33561688/

  • Prime Minister’s Statement: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/01/10/statement-prime-minister-canada-changes-ministry
  • Immigrant rights groups lay out agenda for incoming ministers: http://migrantrights.ca/en/immigrant-rights-groups-lay-out-agenda-for-incoming-ministers/

 

Ontario

Cabinet shuffle, January 12, sees new Women’s Issues and Seniors Affairs ministries:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/01/marie-france-lalonde-ontarios-new-minister-of-community-safety-and-correctional-services

ODSP caseloads have been rising, due largely to an increase in mental health:
http://www.thelondoner.ca/2017/01/11/odsp-cases-on-the-rise-as-link-between-poverty-and-mental-health-strengthens

ISAC: Increase won to ODSP / OW medical travel mileage rate:
http://incomesecurity.org/litigation/increase-won-to-odsp-ow-medical-travel-mileage-rate/

  • Government bulletin: Ontario increasing mileage rates for social assistance recipients: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2017/01/ontario-increasing-mileage-rates-for-social-assistance-recipients.html

ISAC: Full child support exemption for parents on OW and ODSP coming this month:
http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/full-child-support-exemption-for-parents-on-ow-and-odsp-coming-this-month-exemption-complete-des-pensions-alimentaires-pour-enfants-des-ce-mois-ci/

Forced labour in restaurant kitchens is no joke:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-food-chain/forced-labour-in-restaurant-kitchens-is-no-joke

Ten things you can do this year for a hunger-free Ontario:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/hunger-free-ontario_b_14055762.html

Financial Accountability Office says Ontario must cut $2.8 billion from health funding to balance the budget:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/01/10/ontario-health-care-budget-cuts.html

Legal Aid Ontario’s funding shortages impact immigration, tenancy and disability law too:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/legal-aid-s-immigration-refugee-tenancy-disability-reasonable-doubt/

Mercury tainted soil from upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation:
https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2017/01/12/mercury-tainted-soil-found-upstream-from-grassy-narrows-first-nation.html

Ontario Nonprofit Network: Can charities and nonprofits help heal social division?:
http://theonn.ca/can-charities-nonprofits-help-heal-social-division/

Government release: Ontario economy continues to grow in third quarter of 2016:
https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2017/01/ontario-economy-continues-to-grow-in-third-quarter-of-2016.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

ISAC’s pre-budget submission on $1 billion for social assistance – read it and support it, if you can:
http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/1-billion-for-ow-odsp-isacs-2017-pre-budget-submission-1-milliard-de-dollars-pour-ot-le-posph-soumission-prebudgetaire-2017-du-casr/

CCPA report: Predatory Lending: A survey of high interest alternative financial service users:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/predatory-lending

Ontario Non-Profit Network is hiring a Decent Work Project Lead:
http://connectjobs.ca/job/decent-work-project-lead/

Jan 17 author talk in Toronto: Toronto’s Poor – A Rebellious History:
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Em=1&Entt=RDMEVT259158&R=EVT259158

Jan 18 Webinar: Poverty & Housing in Canada:
https://www.cpj.ca/webinar-poverty-housing-canada

Stats Can: New housing price index, November 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170112/dq170112a-eng.htm

 

Around the Province

St. Thomas bus pass pilot project starts February:
http://www.theweeklynews.ca/news-story/7057288-bus-pass-pilot-project-starts-february/

Ontario commits to funding 3 supervised safe injection sites in Toronto:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3169269/ontario-commits-to-funding-3-supervised-safe-injection-sites-in-toronto/

Millions in grants for needy students in the Toronto District School Board aren’t getting to them:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/12/millions-in-grants-for-needy-students-arent-getting-to-them-report-says.html

  • Here’s the Social Planning Toronto report: http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/new_report_finds_61_million_in_provincial_funding_for_low_income_toronto_students_being_diverted

Toronto Public Health collecting data on the deaths of people who are homeless:
http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/public-health-collecting-more-data-on-homeless-deaths-in-toronto-1.3234988

Unique program to help First Nations people navigate the justice system recognized in Sarnia:
http://thesarniajournal.ca/humble-advocates-idea-spreading-across-ontario/

Welland homeless shelters are full, but one centre makes room:
http://www.pelhamnews.ca/2017/01/08/always-room-for-people-in-need

What will the City of Toronto’s budget cost – and who will it impact most?
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/01/02/what-will-the-citys-2017-budget-cost-us.html

City of Toronto warming centre defended as necessary “so people don’t die on our streets”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/neighbourhood-surprised-when-city-opens-homeless-warming-station-next-to-a-school-1.3928433

GoFundMe campaign launched to keep Guelph’s Out of Poverty Society operating:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/poverty-guelph-gofundme-1.3924981

Average home price in the GTA jumped 20% in 2016:
http://homesmag.com/average-gta-home-price-jumped-20-in-2016/

Toronto Mayor Tory’s move to privatize garbage collection is “not about ideology”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-garbage-announcement-1.3930529

Residents speak out on Toronto’s 2017 city budget at Scarborough Civic Centre:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/7053368-residents-speak-out-on-2017-city-budget-at-scarborough-civic-centre/

Labour and business in Thunder Bay welcome new federal Minister of Labour:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/labour-business-welcome-hajdus-appointment-507363

 

Across the Country

Edmonton single mom pleads for a pest-free home:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmonton/family-pleads-for-pest-free-home-1.3925687

Calgary area employment income down over $800 million in 2016:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/01/08/calgary-area-employment-income-down-over-800-million-in-2016

Income assistance keeps Manitobans at 50-70 per cent of poverty line: Protesters:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/manitoba/income-assistance-keeps-manitobans-at-50-70-per-cent-of-poverty-line-protesters-1.3925158

  • Lobby group to Manitoba government: Make poverty a priority: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/01/06/lobby-group-to-tories-make-poverty-a-priority

Nova Scotia’s Human Rights Commission ordered to reconsider special diet case:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/special-diet-discrimination-social-assistance-1.3930951

Lack of affordable housing puts Sydney, Nova Scotia shelter in crunch:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sydney-shelter-women-children-stays-1.3928115

PEI government neglecting baby by not paying social assistance benefit to father for formula:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/2017/1/6/p–e-i–government–neglecting–five-week-old-baby.html

Nunavut poverty reduction secretariat looks to add two new members:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/poverty-roundtable-nunavut-1.3931665

BC jobs plan not enough to address high poverty rate, says CCPA-BC:
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/b-c-jobs-plan-not-enough-to-address-high-poverty-rate-think-tank-1.7213353

  • BC’s poverty rate is second highest in Canada: New report calls again for a poverty reduction plan: http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/bc-home-canada-s-second-highest-poverty-rate
  • Poverty reduction supporter sets BC election target: http://www.news1130.com/2017/01/11/poverty-reduction-supporter-sets-bc-election-target/

City workers in Port Coquitlam, BC, now earn a living wage:
http://www.tricitynews.com/news/port-coquitlam-city-workers-now-earn-a-living-wage-1.7171888

Richmond, BC, votes to ban short-term rentals like Airbnb despite new rules:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/richmond-bc-votes-to-ban-short-term-rentals/article33573930/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe

BC homeowner grant doesn’t distinguish between rich and poor:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/01/10/homeowner-grant-doesnt-distinguish-between-rich-and-poor.html

 

National

Ottawa projecting decades of deficits:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-projects-decades-of-deficits-as-federal-finances-worsen/article33512275/

Higher inflation in 2017 will cost average Canadian extra $1600 this year:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/01/12/inflation-canada_n_14135516.html

Canada’s economy is off to a “strong start” in 2017 – can we keep it up?:
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/economy/canadas-economy-is-off-to-a-strong-start-in-2017-can-we-keep-it-up/

 

International

Research in California shows $15 minimum wage has big impact on pay, none on jobs:
http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/01/11/research-zeroing-in-on-fresno-shows-15-california-minimum-wage-has-big-impact-on-pay-none-on-jobs/

  • Here’s the report: http://irle.berkeley.edu/effects-of-a-15-minimum-wage-in-california-and-fresno/

Higher Seattle minimum wage hasn’t hurt restaurant jobs growth after a year:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2017/01/07/seattle-restaurant-jobs-keep-growing-with-higher-minimum-wages-after-a-year/#470f50f21e9f

Oregon woman evicted from senior housing for $338 in late rent freezes to death in parking garage:
http://usuncut.com/news/oregon-woman-evicted-senior-housing-328-late-rent-freezes-death-parking-garage/

GOP legislators in Arizona plan to limit citizen initiatives and roll back minimum wage hike:
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/other-gop-issues-limit-citizen-initiatives-roll-back-minimum-wage/article_1133a709-9a27-5ecc-a0e4-9a065ca94a47.html

Final jobs report under Obama underscores complicated legacy:
http://nypost.com/2017/01/06/final-jobs-report-under-obama-underscores-complicated-legacy/

Spain increases its minimum wage:
http://www.theleader.info/2017/01/09/minimum-wage-increased-23-50-euros-per-day/

Mexico raises minimum wage to cushion impact of fuel price increase:
http://www.nearshoreamericas.com/mexico-raises-daily-minimum-wage-10/

Australia’s automated social assistance payment reconciliation system delivers “a summer from hell”:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/09/ombudsman-launches-investigation-into-centrelink-debt-recovery-crisis?CMP=soc_567

Ration days again: Australia’s cashless welfare card ignites shame:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/09/ration-days-again-cashless-welfare-card-ignites-shame

Cashless welfare card treats Aboriginal people as third-class citizens:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jan/10/cashless-welfare-card-treats-aboriginal-people-third-class-citizens

Australian welfare charity slams poverty shaming: https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2017/01/welfare-charity-slams-poverty-shaming/

The most bizarre excuses for not paying the UK minimum wage revealed:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/revealed-most-bizarre-excuses-for-underpaying-staff-the-national-minimum-wage

UK welfare minister “happy to look at” making benefit assessors wear cameras to prove tests are fair:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-welfare-minister-happy-look-9592547

Households on welfare in Japan hit record high for third month:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/01/11/national/households-welfare-japan-hit-record-high-third-month/#.WHj4NX1WLeQ

 

 

 

 

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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.