• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

  • Our Work
    • Litigation
    • Policy
    • Community Organizing
    • Public Education
  • Campaigns
  • Publications
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision & Mandate
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Board Members
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Updates
  • Resources
  • Twitter
  • en English
    zh-CN 简体中文en Englishfr Françaisit Italianopt Portuguêses Español

Media & Policy News: 16 October 2015

October 16, 2015

Top Stories

Are you registered to vote? Use this online tool to be sure:
https://ereg.elections.ca/CWelcome.aspx

Election 2015: ISAC’s list of key issues and where the parties stand:
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=095b12c98935ecaadd327bf90&id=624442f8e0

Campaign 2000 report: Mapping Child Poverty: A Reality in Every Federal Riding

  • No riding in Canada is immune from child poverty: http://www.campaign2000.ca/
  • Campaign 2000’s Anita Khanna on The Exchange with Amanda Lang:http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/The+Exchange+with+Amanda+Lang/ID/2677130026/
  • Column: Promises, promises, but no answers for child poverty: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/story.html?id=11428405&__lsa=93a3-62f2
  • Child poverty is widespread in Toronto area ridings: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/07/child-poverty-widespread-in-toronto-area-ridings.html
  • Child poverty in Toronto could become an election issue: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/10/07/canada-poverty-election_n_8261070.html
  • Child poverty in Northwestern Ontario is far too high: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2015/10/11/child-poverty-rates-across-northwestern-ontario-far-too-high/ 
  • One riding in BC has a rate of child poverty of 22.5%: http://www.wltribune.com/news/331833391.html
  • A riding in Nova Scotia has a child poverty rate of 34.5%: http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2015-10-09/article-4305692/Child-poverty-remains-high-in-Cape-Breton/1

Costs of Ontario’s 1995 “welfare diet” soar, while OW and ODSP rates remain inadequate:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/10/cost-of-ontarios-1995-welfare-diet-soars-amid-inadequate-rates.html

Faces of Nova Scotia Welfare puts a human face on those relying on social assistance benefits:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/benefits-reform-action-group-ns-reveals-faces-of-welfare-1.3269468

  • Group fights welfare stigma with social media: http://globalnews.ca/news/2274883/facesofnswelfare-fighting-welfare-stigma-through-social-media/ 

Globe editorial: Providing safe drinking water to First Nations communities is easy. Just do it:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/providing-safe-drinking-water-on-reserves-is-simple-just-do-it/article26793153/

Payday loan companies to pay $10 million in class-action lawsuit settlement:
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/10/08/payday-loan-companies-agree-to-pay-10m-to-settle-class-action-lawsuits

Editorial: Politicians are ignoring poverty in the chase for middle-class votes:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/10/06/politicians-are-ignoring-poverty-in-chase-after-middle-class-votes-editorial.html

Editorial: Ontario’s working poor deserve better:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/10/01/ontarios-working-poor-deserve-better-editorial.html

Op-Ed: Canadian children need a champion to ensure better health in the face of debilitating poverty:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1315929-in-face-of-debilitating-poverty-canadian-children-need-a-champion

Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff

Sign the Toronto Poverty Reduction petition – calling on City Councillors to support a bold plan:
http://togethertoronto.ca/campaigns/poverty-reduction

  • Here’s the City’s interim Poverty Reduction Strategy: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=faeabf088412e410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=de8f727e05c79410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD 

New report on mental health and addiction from Ontario Human Rights Commission:
http://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-news/ontario-mentalhealth-report-released-197503.aspx

  • Here’s the report: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/numbers-statistical-profile-people-mental-health-and-addiction-disabilities-ontario 

Nov 26-28: Canadian Council for Refugees Fall Consultation – Hamilton:
http://ccrweb.ca/sites/ccrweb.ca/files/pamphleten.pdf

PLE Toolbox: Helping clients with Public Legal Education and information:
http://www.plelearningexchange.ca/toolbox/

Video: Disability and the Duty to Accommodate – from the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/resource/disability-and-duty-accommodate

Ontario

Ontario consultations on closing the gender wage gap:
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2015/10/ontario-seeking-public-input-on-closing-the-gender-wage-gap.html

  • Star coverage: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/10/08/ontario-government-vows-action-on-gender-wage-gap.html
  • Skepticism greets the announcement: http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/10/08/skepticism-greets-liberals-push-to-close-gender-wage-gap.html 

Ontario Local Poverty Reduction Fund announcements:

  • Services for at risk youth, single moms, and those needing legal services in Hamilton:https://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/10/ontario-to-support-at-risk-youth-single-mothers-and-those-in-need-of-community-legal-services-in-ham.html
  • Out of the Cold program in Sudbury: http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2015/10/11-thibeault-homeless-funding-sudbury.aspx
  • Culinary programs for at-risk youth in Peel: https://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/10/ontario-partners-with-catholic-family-services-on-community-based-poverty-solutions-in-peel.html
  • Evaluating poverty reduction in Guelph: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/5957386-province-to-provide-138-800-to-evaluate-guelph-poverty-reduction-program/

Around the Province

Long awaited inquest into Aboriginal students’ deaths starts in Thunder Bay:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2259607/long-awaited-inquest-into-young-aboriginal-deaths-starts-in-thunder-bay/

  • Lawyer reflects on week one of the inquest: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-student-deaths-inquest-lawyer-reflects-on-week-one-1.3269094?cmp=rss 

Community coalition report: Toronto retains its shameful title as the child poverty capital of Canada:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/13/toronto-holds-onto-its-shameful-title-child-poverty-capital-of-canada.html

  • Here’s the report: http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/news/toronto-remains-the-child-poverty-capital-of-canada/
  • It’s a record we don’t want: http://www.citynews.ca/2015/10/13/a-record-we-dont-want-toronto-leads-canada-in-child-poverty/
  • Editorial: Toronto should not be tops in child poverty:  http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/10/13/toronto-should-not-be-tops-in-child-poverty-editorial.html

Vital Signs 2015 report warns of growing income gap in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/06/new-report-warns-of-growing-income-gap-in-toronto.html

  • Report says Toronto is Canada’s capital of working poverty: http://globalnews.ca/news/2262116/report-brands-toronto-canadas-capital-of-working-poverty/ 

Toronto Council could vote to spend as much as $100 million on poverty reduction in 2016:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/14/toronto-could-spend-100m-to-fight-poverty-in-2016.html

  • Does Toronto need a low-income transit pass?: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2015/10/13/does-toronto-need-a-low-income-ttc-pass.html
  • Toronto’s plan to invest in homeless shelters “too little, too late”: http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2015/10/15/toronto-plan-to-invest-in-homeless-shelters-criticized-.html

St. Catherine’s: To fight poverty, you’ve gotta think BIG:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/10/15/column-think-big-to-fight-poverty

Use the R-word in Peterborough? You get yellow carded:
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2015/10/09/yellowcard-campaign-aims-to-end-use-of-r-word

Brantford program to provide rent subsidies for people who are homeless:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2015/10/07/rent-program-seeks-to-help-homeless

Flag raising in Chatham-Kent part of public education efforts on the realities of poverty:
http://www.chathamthisweek.com/2015/10/13/helping-the-public-learn-about-the-realities-of-poverty

Actually, Hamilton’s not the best place to raise a child:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-not-the-best-place-to-raise-a-child-1.3263090

Harm reduction shelter a step closer in Sudbury:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2015/10/05/wet-shelter-step-closer

Across the Country

Homeless in Igloolik: Family of five lives in a tent:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/homeless-in-igloolik-family-of-5-lives-in-a-tent-1.3253390

Advocates call on BC to end clawbacks of maternity and parental leave benefits from social assistance:
http://www.nelsonstar.com/opinion/330409681.html

Advocates call on Alberta to end clawbacks of child support from social assistance:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/doreen-nicoll/2015/10/alberta-respect-children-first-act-and-stop-clawing-back-child-

Poverty Awareness Week kicks of in Saskatoon:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2275723/poverty-awareness-week-kicks-off-in-saskatoon/

Calgarians discuss what they’re doing to end poverty:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2015/10/14/calgarians-discuss-what-theyre-doing-to-end-poverty-.html

From Newfoundland and Labrador: Governments can help end poverty!
http://citizen.on.ca/?p=4385

From Halifax: What about the plight of the poor?:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/letters/1316552-reader’s-corner-what-about-the-plight-of-the-poor

National

Report: Social Security Tribunal short staffed, error prone; three year delay on CPP/EI/OAS appeals:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/social-security-tribunal-short-staffed-error-prone-and-under-pressure-report-1.2611142

StatsCan study shows self-employment rises with joblessness:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/self-employment-study-1.3262831

12,000 jobs added in September, but unemployment rises to 7.1%:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-jobs-september-1.3264203

Responding to the refugee crisis must include expanding refugee health care:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/y-y-brandon-chen/response-to-refugee-crisis_b_8272012.html

How we created a Canadian prison crisis:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/10/04/how-we-created-a-canadian-prison-crisis.html

Federal Election

All the party platforms are available here:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-party-platforms-1.3264887

Election shenanigans: Everything you need to know about your rights when voting:
https://bccla.org/2015/10/election-shenanigans/

Too busy to vote? Your boss has to give you time to vote on October 19:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2252876/too-busy-to-vote-your-boss-has-to-give-you-time-to-vote-on-oct-19/?hootPostID=4b78a00db5542bb93d3d9b31726b09fb

Do Canadian voters even know where their self-interest lies?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/do-canadian-voters-even-know-where-their-self-interest-lies/article26587656/

Hamilton Legal Clinic: Vote to End Poverty:
http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/blog/?post=Vote+to+End+Poverty&id=305

Making life easier for single moms would really help Canadian families:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/parenting/the-real-way-to-support-canadian-families-this-campaign-make-life-easier-for-single-moms/article26613155/

Why the middle class should care about poverty in this election:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5955924-why-the-middle-class-should-care-about-poverty/

Winnipeg food bank director says federal campaign ignoring poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/federal-campaign-fails-to-tackle-poverty-food-bank-director-says-1.3271278

Young First Nations are rocking the vote to increase turnout and have an impact:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/aboriginal/rock-the-vote-first-nations-1.3266798?cmp=abfb

Public opinion polling is at a “crisis point”:
http://www.hilltimes.com/news/news/2015/10/05/public-opinion-polling-at-crisis-point-more-transparency-needed-says-head-of-new/43616?mcl=&muid=

Some stories from voting booth:

  • Calgary homeless shelter first in country to have polling station: http://www.660news.com/2015/09/23/calgary-homeless-shelter-first-in-country-to-have-polling-station/
  • Disability advocate fights for more accessibility at the polls:  http://globalnews.ca/news/2264768/advocate-fights-for-more-accessibility-at-federal-election-polling-stations/
  • Advance voter turnout triples in Nunavut, doubles in NWT and Yukon: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/advance-voter-turnout-triples-in-nunavut-doubles-in-n-w-t-yukon-1.3271290
  • Concerned voter complains that Elections Canada officials are asking improper questions at the polls:http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/elections+canada+asking+improper+questions+poll+voter/11431965/story.html
  • Election office in Vancouver closes early during advance polls, leaving 100 unable to vote:http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/10/vancouver-elections-canada-office-closes/
  • Advance poll in BC runs out of ballots: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-election-2015-advance-poll-ballots-1.3269630
  • Transgender voters receive voter cards with birth names, not legal names: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/transgender-election-voting-card-calgary-1.3258432
  • Yukoners told to vote 590 km away from home: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/elections-canada-error-yukoners-told-to-vote-590km-from-home-1.3253367
  • Some long-time voters in Nova Scotia not on registered voters list: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/elections-canada-online-registration-problems-1.3240393
  • Cortes Island voter directed to inaccessible island 300 km away: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elections-canada-mistake-cortes-island-1.3253510

International

World Bank says governments should focus on creating shared prosperity:
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2015/10/01/governments-focus-shared-prosperity-inequality-world-bank-group-president

Air France workers storm meeting and rip shirts from executives over 2900 job losses:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/05/air-france-workers-storm-meeting-protest-executives-job-losses-paris

Economist wins Nobel Prize for work on poverty, welfare, and consumption:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/nobel-prize-awarded-to-princeton-economist-for-work-understanding-poverty-at-the-very-
basic-level

New findings from the war on poverty: Just give people cash:
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-10-09/new-findings-from-war-on-poverty-just-give-cash

A special US Census Bureau report says 48 million Americans live in poverty:
http://money.cnn.com/2014/10/16/news/economy/48-million-americans-poverty-census-bureau/index.html

Australia needs a poverty reduction plan:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/national-poverty-plan-needed-say-welfare-groups-20151011-gk6ajd.html

Media and Policy News E-list Archive

Primary Sidebar

Blog sidebar

Subscribe

"*" indicates required fields

Name

Income Security Advocacy Centre

Footer widget

1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Tel: (416) 597-5820 • Toll Free: 1-866-245-4072 • Fax: (416) 597-5821

  • Contact

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.