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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

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Media & Policy News: 13 May 2016

May 13, 2016

Top Stories

Ontario’s soaring poverty gap is starkest for single adults as welfare rates stagnate:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/05/09/ontarios-poverty-gap-soars-as-welfare-rates-stagnate.html

  • Here’s the report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/ontarios-social-assistance-poverty-gap
  • People on social assistance are actually worse in worse shape now than under Mike Harris: http://www.pressprogress.ca/people_on_social_assistance_in_ontario_are_actually_in_worse_shape_now_than_under_mike_harris
  • Ontario’s poverty gap puts the lie to Wynne’s social justice pretensions: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/michael-laxer/2016/05/ontarios-poverty-gap-puts-lie-to-wynnes-social-justice-pretensi

Successful strike by Tibetan food terminal workers sets a precedent and highlights precarious work:
http://torontoist.com/2016/05/tibetan-food-terminal-strikers-spoke-to-larger-issue-of-precarious-work/

  • OFL statement for Asian & South Asian Heritage Month (May 2016) on precarious work:
    http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/standing-with-asian-south-asian-workers-against-income-inequality-2120083.htm
  • Worried sick about work: How exactly are people expected to make ends meet?:
    https://medium.com/@jenniferhollett/worried-sick-about-work-32f15c1d34ea#.d5q37dguf
  • Federal review of Temporary Foreign Worker program must include agricultural workers: http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/dunsworth-in-review-of-temporary-foreign-worker-program-dont-forget-the-farmers

Stats Can survey of job vacancies shows virtually all in-demand jobs in Canada are low-paid positions:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/05/12/job-vacancies-canada_n_9932560.html

Alberta Child Benefit will not impact eligibility or benefit amounts for social assistance (see page 2):
http://www.alberta.ca/documents/QA.pdf

“We are loan sharks”: Why one woman is leaving the payday loan business:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2693327/we-are-loan-sharks-why-one-womans-leaving-the-payday-lending-business/?sf26112286=1

Canada adopts the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, removing objector status:
http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/05/canada-adopts-un-indigenous-rights-declaration.php

  • The roadblock to reconciliation: Canada’s origin story is false: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-roadblock-to-reconciliation-canadas-origin-story-is-false/article29951998/

Canada’s MPs have the right to know which Canadians took part in the Panama Papers tax scheme, despite KPMG refusals to provide information:
http://ipolitics.ca/2016/05/09/mps-have-the-right-to-know-who-took-part-in-tax-scheme/

  • Tax havens serve “no useful purpose” say more than 350 leading economists:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/05/09/tax-havens-serve-no-useful-purpose-say-more-than-350-leading-economists.html
  • A message from “John Doe”, the Panama Papers whistleblower: http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/blog/message-panama-papers-whistleblower
  • Response to tax dodging by rich will show Trudeau’s true colours: http://www.thetyee.ca/Opinion/2016/05/13/Rich-Tax-Dodging/

Federal government launches Employment Insurance services review:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-government-of-canada-launches-consultation-to-improve-employment-insurance-services—parliamentary-secretaries-member-of-parliament-lead-ei-service-quality-review-579181341.html

 

Ontario

Ontario “tweaks” controversial daycare regulations:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/05/09/ontario-tweaks-controversial-daycare-regulations.html

PC MCSS critic says it shouldn’t take a lawsuit for the government to reimburse municipalities for SAMS:
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/05/10/municipalities-not-responsible-for-liberal-governments-mistakes-pettapiece-says

The Ontario Retirement Pension Plan presents “a game changing opportunity”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/ontarios-pension-plan-presents-a-game-changing-opportunity/article29941217/

Column: Another reason the ORPP is a bad idea:
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/05/10/another-reason-the-orpp-is-a-bad-idea

 

Events, Campaigns, Reports, and Other Good Things

Fraser Institute thinks sending your kid to university counts as “child care”:
http://www.pressprogress.ca/fraser_institute_thinks_sending_your_kid_to_university_counts_as_child_care

Report: Housing as a Health Care Investment: Affordable housing supports children’s health:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/19cfbe_4d4761b6e25b416584cd348504660cb4.pdf

 

Around the Province

Frontenac County summit addresses rural housing conditions and poverty:
http://www.kingstonregion.com/news-story/6548686-frontenac-county-summit-on-rural-housing-conditions-poverty-addresses-several-pertinent-issues/

Ottawa Transit Commission votes to ask Ontario to pay $3.3 million for a low-income transit pass:
http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/low-income-oc-transpo-passes-the-latest-debate-at-city-hall-1.2894294

  • Low-income bus pass would bring fairness and equity: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/low-income-transit-pass-ottawa-committee-1.3572486
  • Commission chair is skeptical that the province can afford it: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/low-income-transit-pass-ottawa-committee-1.3572486
  • Ottawa Citizen editorial: Low-income passes noble, but at what cost? http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-low-income-passes-noble-but-at-what-cost

Thunder Bay letter to the editor: Privilege should cause discomfort:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/privilege-should-cause-discomfort/article_f5bd7120-16a8-11e6-9e2a-dfa3f4a014b5.html

Preliminary numbers released on Niagara’s first homeless count, but more analysis necessary:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/05/10/homelessness-data-being-analyzed

Toronto palliative care nurse helps people who are homeless die with dignity:
https://www.thestar.com/life/nursing/2016/05/06/nurse-helps-homeless-die-with-dignity.html

Toronto’s new procurement program helps create jobs for disadvantaged workers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/05/06/torontos-new-procurement-program-helps-create-jobs-for-disadvantaged-workers.html

Brantford woman organizing local injured workers’ support group:
http://www.brantnews.com/news-story/6525933-local-woman-organizing-injured-workers-support-group/

Hamilton Living Wage Working Group says the living wage for that city must rise:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6548065-hamilton-poverty-group-says-living-wage-target-must-rise-/

Parkdale Sidewalk Festival in Toronto to highlight fraying social safety net in Ontario:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6526042-spring-into-parkdale-sidewalk-festival-to-highlight-fraying-social-safety-net-in-ontario/

New health clinic in Windsor-Essex serves Syrian refugees and other newcomers:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/new-health-clinic-for-syrian-refugees-other-newcomers

 

Across the Country

Edmonton, south Saskatchewan and BC interior meet criteria for Employment Insurance extension:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/edmonton-saskatchewan-bc-interior-employment-insurance-extension-1.3579173

20,000 from Fort McMurray have applied for EI since wildfires struck:
http://www.news1130.com/2016/05/10/fort-mcmurray-ei-wildfires/

Newfoundland and Labrador residential school survivors reach $50M settlement with Ottawa:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/residential-school-case-update-1.3574080

Op-ed: The Quebec Human Rights Commission must recognize systemic racism:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/yvonne-sam/quebec-systemic-racism_b_9904016.html

Nova Scotia NDP Opposition introduces bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2019:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2016/05/10/nova-scotia-ndp-table-15-an-hour-minimum-wage-bill.html

Affordable housing in Montreal: No new starts in 7 communities:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/affordable-social-housing-starts-1.3569029

Billionaire denies leaving Alberta to avoid taxes:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/murray-edwards-cnrl-alberta-taxes-1.3568199

Small business owners weigh in on the right, “ethical” wage:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2016/05/10/halifax-small-business-owners-weigh-in-on-the-right-wage-.html

Historic exclusion from the economy means average income assistance use on Saskatchewan First Nations is 44 percent:
http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/average-income-assistance-dependency-rates-on-saskatchewan-first-nations-at-44-per-cent

Free tuition in New Brunswick comes at big cost to 40,000 students:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/free-tuition-changes-tab-program-1.3573019

 

National

Canada in need of widespread dental care reform:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/life/health/canada-in-need-of-widespread-dental-care-reform/article/465023

The International Monetary Fund “loves what Canada is doing” but has a few suggestions, like providing more generous child care subsidies:
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/economy/the-imf-loves-what-canadas-doing-but-it-has-a-few-suggestions/

Parliamentary Budget Office report on federal post-secondary spending outlines problems of current policies for low-income students:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/05/10/pain-by-numbers-the-distributional-impacts-of-federal-funding-for-post-secondary-education/

Changes should be made to Canada’s census to ensure needs of transgender people are met:
http://www.dailyxtra.com/canada/news-and-ideas/news/trans-people-upset-with-canadas-census-192652

Women fired while on maternity leave want better legal protection:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-may-10-2016-1.3574840/women-fired-while-on-maternity-leave-want-better-legal-protection-1.3574912

Federal Court of Appeal says Canadian employers must try to accommodate parents’ child care obligations:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1319467/court-says-employers-must-try-to-accommodate-parents-child-care-obligations/

Wildfire in Fort McMurray could force foreign temporary workers out of Canada:
http://www.hrreporter.com/articleview/27539-wildfire-in-fort-mcmurray-could-force-foreign-temporary-workers-out-of-canada

John Manley and Perrin Beatty: No patchwork of provincial pension plans, but a national solution:
http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/we-cant-afford-a-patchwork-of-provincial-pension-plans

Don’t confuse CPP investment returns with the actual benefits:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/dont-confuse-cpp-investment-returns-with-the-actual-benefits/article29926855/

 

International

Rifkin: A radical new economic system will emerge from the collapse of capitalism:
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/nov/07/radical-new-economic-system-will-emerge-from-collapse-of-capitalism

Seattle is privatizing work involved in evicting people who are homeless from unauthorized camps:
http://www.thestranger.com/news/2016/05/04/24038273/privatizing-the-clearing-of-homeless-encampments

Cuts to NYC shelters could see city’s homeless kicked to the curb:
http://nypost.com/2016/05/09/shelter-cuts-could-kick-citys-homeless-to-the-curb/

Kansans leaving welfare but not poverty:
http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article76159267.html

A staggering number of people with factory jobs in the US still need government help:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/05/10/the-staggering-number-of-people-with-good-factory-jobs-who-still-need-government-help/

Auckland, NZ, council wants the power to fine people who ask for money on the street:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/303522/auckland-may-fine-beggars

Universal Credit will increase child poverty, UK MPs warn:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-will-increase-child-poverty-mps-warn-a7023061.html

Building Livelihoods poverty project in Wales a success, says charity:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-36193513

Royal Town Planning Institute says “place poverty” must be tackled:
http://www.localgov.co.uk/Neglect-of-place-poverty-hampering-fight-against-deprivation/40839

How do you change voters minds? Have a conversation:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/10/magazine/how-do-you-change-voters-minds-have-a-conversation.html?_r=0

Pope: The fight against poverty is above all a moral one:
http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/05/13/pope_the_fight_against_poverty_above_all_a_moral_one/1229522

Poor people deserve to taste something other than shame:
http://www.theestablishment.co/2016/05/12/poor-people-deserve-to-taste-something-other-than-shame/

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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.