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Media & Policy News: 17 March 2017

March 17, 2017

Top Stories

Ontario housing minister vows to boost rent control after CBC Toronto tenancy series:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/housing-minister-rent-control-1.4028692

  • NDP proposes bill to expand rent controls to all buildings:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/03/16/ndp-proposes-bill-to-expand-rent-controls-to-all-buildings.html
  • Ontario developing plan to control unfair hikes in rent: http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/03/16/rent-control-province-1991-law.html
  • Housing minister says rent control will expand: https://www.pressreader.com/canada/metro-canada-toronto/20170317/281535110803496

PEI’s social assistance rates are well below the cost of healthy food:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-groceries-social-assistance-1.4022180

  • Food insecurity: Community gardens, subsidized housing not answers – what matters is income: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-food-insecurity-tarasuk-doyle-upei-1.4024797
  • Living in poverty, forgotten by governments: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/shawn-pegg/living-in-poverty_b_15334522.html

Ontario Labour Minister speaks to business group, places hopes on Changing Workplaces Review:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2017/03/10/flynn-places-hopes-on-reviews

  • Flynn talks changes to Ontario employment law: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/labour-minister-kevin-flynn-talks-changes-to-ontario-employment-law
  • Ontario Federation of Labour holds special women’s briefing: Women need decent work: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/ontario-federation-of-labour-holds-special-womens-briefing-women-need-decent-work-2201617.htm
  • Bosses who broke the law haven’t learned their lesson, labour ministry blitz finds:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/15/bosses-who-broke-law-havent-learned-their-lesson-labour-ministry-blitz-finds.html

To end homelessness, prevent it from happening in the first place (including increasing social assistance incomes):
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/03/13/End-Homelessness/

  • Rental housing squeeze leaving racialized renters out in the cold in the GTA: https://nowtoronto.com/news/rental-housing-squeeze-is-leaving-racialized-renters-out-in-/

Come early: Toronto’s homeless struggle for place to sleep in freezing winter:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/out-of-the-cold-1.4027278

  • Video: Bursting at the Seams – Toronto’s shelter system:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnfNstiArQo&feature=share

Child care talks reignite with looming budget: http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/7194521-child-care-talks-reignite-with-looming-budget/

  • Ottawa may offer more child care breaks in upcoming budget:
    http://www.news1130.com/2017/03/13/ottawa-may-offer-child-care-breaks/
  • Editorial: Increase funding for a national child care program: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/03/16/increase-funding-for-a-national-child-care-program-editorial.html

Canadians deserve to know why KPMG tax dodgers were let off easy:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dennis-howlett/kpmg-tax-fraud-isle-of-man_b_15267920.html

  • Tax court judge recuses himself from KPMG-linked trial after CBC revelations: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/tax-judge-kpmg-madrid-1.4023995

Editorial: Ottawa should end unfair and ineffective tax breaks:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/03/10/ottawa-should-end-unfair-and-ineffective-tax-breaks-editorial.html

  • When will the Liberals clean up the income tax code? Try ‘never’: http://ipolitics.ca/2017/03/10/when-will-the-liberals-clean-up-the-tax-code-try-never/

Liberals should consider overhaul of EI parental leave benefits: Study:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/study-urges-liberals-to-overhaul-parental-leave-benefits/article34308782/

  • Here’s the study report: http://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/study-no63.pdf?mc_cid=ffe0d9b83b&mc_eid=93c40f0305

Migrant dreams can be nightmares:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/migrant-dreams-can-be-nightmares-415841974.html

Household debt hits another record in Canada:
http://barrie.ctvnews.ca/household-debt-hits-another-record-in-canada-1.3326080

Tribunal can’t enforce Indigenous child welfare ruling, Ottawa says:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tribunal-cant-enforce-indigenous-child-welfare-ruling-ottawa-says/article34317817/

Many people with disabilities unaware they’re eligible for tax credit, MP says:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/north-island-disabilites-tax-credit-rachel-blaney-1.4026997

Federal prosecutors defend use of cruel and unusual punishment in mandatory victim surcharge case:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/federal-prosecutors-defend-use-of-cruel-unusual-punishment/article34335236/

First federal poverty reduction strategy case study complete in Saint John:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-concludes-first-case-study-visit-for-tackling-poverty-together-project-in-saint-john-new-brunswick-616124624.html

 

Ontario

Ontario’s basic income pilot project gets strong support; commenters want income and services:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/16/pilot-project-to-introduce-a-basic-income-in-ontario-gets-strong-public-support.html

Government poll shows support for hydro rate cut, but concern over long-term cost:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/03/14/premier-kathleen-wynne-brushes-aside-cynicism-over-hydro-rate-cut.html

  • Mike Schreiner: Liberals’ hydro shell game is an expensive band-aid: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/mike-schreiner/liberals-hydro-shell-game_b_15248272.html
  • Sault area hospital hydro bill up nearly $1 million, forcing layoffs: http://saultonline.com/2017/03/sault-area-hospital-hydro-bill-up-nearly-1m-forcing-layoffs/
  • Ontario cutting hydro rates for First Nations:
    http://www.torontosun.com/2017/03/15/ontario-cutting-hydro-rates-for-first-nations

Ontario nursing homes feed seniors on $8.33 a day:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/03/10/ontario-nursing-homes-feed-seniors-on-833-a-day.html

Judges “100% opposed” to paralegals in family courts:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/14/paralegals-in-family-courts-not-the-solution-toronto-judge-says.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Canadians for Public Justice: Towards a Guaranteed Livable Income:
https://cpj.ca/GLI

New edition of “Rent Increases” available online and in print:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/new-edition-rent-increases-now-available-online-and-print

New edition of “Taking time off work: Pregnancy and parental leaves and benefits” available:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/new-edition-taking-time-work-pregnancy-and-parental-leaves-and-benefits

Course offering in Toronto and Ottawa: Richard Shillington: Statistical Tools for Policy Analysis:
http://www.shillington.ca/Policy_Course/Flyer_March_2017.pdf

Free public legal education workshops at HALCO in April / May 2017:
http://www.halco.org/2017/news/free-public-legal-education-workshops-at-halco-in-april-and-may-2017

Landlord and Tenant Board: 2017 Rent Increase Guideline:
http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/documents/ltb/Brochures/2017%20Rent%20Increase%20Guideline%20(EN).html

2017 Region of Peel tax preparation clinics:
http://peelregion.ca/social-services/peel-taxpreparation-clinics.htm

StatsCan Daily: Aboriginal people and the labour market:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170316/dq170316d-eng.htm

Government of Canada launches joint initiative for online benefit information:
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/government-canada-launches-new-joint-initiative-help-canadians-access-their-benefit-2201220.htm

  • New online tax and benefits portal: http://www.tax-news.com/news/Canada_Launches_New_Online_Tax_Benefits_Portal____73667.html

 

Around the Province

Brockville meeting to collect input on poverty reduction strategy:
http://www.insidebrockville.com/news-story/7183762-brockville-meeting-to-collect-input-on-poverty-reduction-strategy/

A win for the workers in Chatham-Kent:
http://chathamvoice.com/2017/03/08/a-win-for-the-workers/

Four names added to Toronto’s homeless memorial:
http://torontoist.com/2017/03/four-names-added-torontos-homeless-memorial/

Toronto Community Housing buildings have “unique challenges” as 4 fires in past 6 weeks being probed:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/four-fires-toronto-community-housing-buildings-investigations-1.4026522

Eviction by another name: Tenants upset about rent increases by Parkdale landlord:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/eviction-another-name-tenants-protest-132032548.html

Mayor tells Ontario’s finance minister Toronto needs increased transit and housing funding:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3307682/tory-tells-ontarios-finance-minister-toronto-needs-increased-transit-housing-funding/

Thunder Bay lawyer’s focus on social justice earns Law Society’s highest honour:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/thunder-bay/sally-colquhoun-award-1.4024958

 

Across the Country

BC Housing Minister says there’s no fix for rent-hike loophole yet:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-housing-minister-says-theres-no-fix-for-rent-hike-loophole-yet/article34318028/

  • People who are homeless in Kelowna, BC, upset over having to pay fines to recover personal items:
    https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/17/03/12/Sidewalk_bylaw_sees_personal_items_confiscated/
  • Poverty in Cranbrook, BC: A story of social potholes:
    http://www.e-know.ca/regions/cranbrook/poverty-cranbrook-story-social-potholes/
  • Petition for $15 per hour minimum wage delivered to BC legislature: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/petition-for-15-per-hour-minimum-wage-delivered-to-b-c-legislature-1.4026605

Albertans think high-income earners, corporations not paying enough tax: poll:
http://www.parklandinstitute.ca/media_albertans_think_high_income_earners_corporations_not_paying_enough_tax_poll

Fighting Saskatchewan’s deficit on the backs of low paid cleaners a sad story:
http://leaderpost.com/opinion/columnists/fighting-deficit-on-the-backs-of-cleaners-a-sad-story

First Nations students learn to build tiny homes in Saskatchewan:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3305131/from-start-to-finish-first-nation-students-learn-to-build-tiny-homes/

Quebec grocery stores first in Canada to send unused produce to food banks:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3302074/quebec-grocery-stores-first-in-canada-to-send-unused-produce-to-food-banks/?sf61579328=1

Small deeds, big projects: Tackling Saint John poverty:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sandwiches-and-strategy-1.4027608

 

National

PEI woman says help should be there for those on Employment Insurance:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/2017/3/11/p-e-i–woman-says-help-should-be-there-for-those-trying-to-bette.html

How much does it cost to raise a kid in Canada? Experts can’t seem to agree:
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-a-kid-in-canada-experts-cant-seem-to-agree-153155138.html

Canada’s unemployment rate falls to 6.6%, the lowest level in more than 2 years:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/03/10/canada-adds-15300-jobs-in-february-unemployment-rate-falls-to-66.html

Details of Canada’s pension reform changes:
http://www.ai-cio.com/channel/NEWSMAKERS/Canada-Enacts-Pension-Reform-Changes/

Broadbent: Time to renew social democracy:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/03/13/time-to-renew-social-democracy-broadbent.html

Phoenix Generation: Situation not improving for public servants:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/phoenix-generation-160000716.html

Consumer watchdog launches bank review in wake of CBC stories:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/fcac-bank-review-1.4025864

 

International

Cashless welfare card in Australia made life worse, half of trial participants say:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/14/cashless-welfare-card-made-life-worse-say-half-of-trial-participants

  • Here’s the truth about the “free ride” some Australians think Indigenous peoples get:
    http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/culture/article/2016/12/07/heres-truth-about-free-ride-some-australians-think-indigenous-peoples-get
  • Proposed welfare cuts would hurt poor families: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/welfare-cuts-would-hurt-poor-families/news-story/2169f14c9108c5971ce4256d29f2ddb7
  • Government may cut losses on welfare reforms: http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/govt-may-cut-losses-on-welfare-reforms/news-story/7d96317646dc26d6bd6374a7ebbae7a6

Eight Basic Income experiments to watch for in 2017:
http://uk.businessinsider.com/basic-income-experiments-in-2017-2017-1

  • The key criticisms of basic income and how to overcome them:
    https://www.opendemocracy.net/neweconomics/the-key-criticisms-of-basic-income-and-how-to-overcome-them/

Broken America: Famed war photographer turns his camera on racism, poverty and violence in the USA:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4306110/Photographer-turns-camera-racism-poverty-US.html

  • Spent: An online game that showcases the experience of poverty, in the US context:
    http://playspent.org/html/
  • Study: Improving healthcare outcomes in Houston: How social interventions can help:
    https://blogs.bcm.edu/2017/03/14/improving-healthcare-outcomes-social-interventions-can-help/

If you’re a poor person in America, Trump’s budget is not for you:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/16/if-youre-a-poor-person-in-america-trumps-budget-is-not-for-you/

  • Trump’s budget would kill a program that feeds 2.4 million senior citizens: https://time.com/money/4703456/trump-budget-meals-on-wheels/
  • Legal services in unprecedented danger under Trump’s budget proposal: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/16/legal-aid-services-cut-trump-budget-proposal

Emboldened by Trump, minimum wage-hike opponents fight back:
http://prospect.org/article/emboldened-trump-minimum-wage-hike-opponents-fight-back

  • “Labour surcharge” being added to restaurant bills in some US states with minimum wage hikes:
    http://fox21news.com/2017/03/12/dining-out-expect-labor-surcharges-on-your-next-bill/
  • Some diners furious about labour surcharges: http://www.businessinsider.com/restaurants-add-minimum-wage-surcharge-2017-3
  • The latest “underhanded maneuvers” in the minimum wage wars: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/10/minimum-wage-foes-find-new-ways-to-fight-increases-commentary.html
  • We’re Somalia business owners in Minneapolis. We back a $15 minimum wage. Here’s why: http://m.startribune.com/we-re-somali-business-owners-in-minneapolis-we-back-a-15-minimum-wage-here-s-why/416279104/?section=opinion
  • How hard is your server working to earn minimum wage?: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/tipping-workers-minimum-wage/

UK unemployment is as low as 1975 – but why aren’t wages rising?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/15/uk-unemployment-wages-pay-growth

  • UK cosmetics firm Lush to pay all staff the Living Wage:
    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/high-street-cosmetics-firm-lush-10013449
  • The National Minimum Wage and Living Wage are going up so you could be in for a pay raise: http://www.cornwalllive.com/the-national-minimum-wage-and-living-wage-are-going-up-so-you-could-be-in-for-a-pay-rise/story-30201588-detail/story.html
  • Child poverty in UK at highest level since 2010, official figures show:
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/16/child-poverty-in-uk-at-highest-level-since-2010-official-figures-show
  • UK government welfare experts slam ministers for denying disability benefits to 160,000 people:
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/government-welfare-experts-pip-disability-benefits-deny-160000-mental-health-ill-dwp-work-and-a7631656.html

New Zealand’s neoliberal drift:
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/03/new-zealand-neoliberalism-inequality-welfare-state-tax-haven/

South Africans march over looming welfare payment crisis:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-4301242/S-Africans-march-looming-welfare-payment-crisis.html

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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.