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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 19 August 2016

August 19, 2016

Top Stories

Broadbent Blog: On reconciliation, the government can and must do more:
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/jonathansas/reconciliation_government_must_do_more

  • Broadbent Blog: Left and liberal colour blindness imperil real change for Black people: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/left_and_liberal_colour_blindness
  • Op-Ed: Government insincere in attempts to reduce Indigenous over-incarceration: http://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/editorials/op-ed-govt-insincere-in-attempts-to-reduce-indigenous-over-incarceration
  • Indigenous leaders call on Trudeau for redress on Sixties Scoop: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/indigenous-leaders-justin-trudeau-sixties-scoop-apology-1.3722807

Flexible, versatile workers will be key for future job types: World Economic Forum Report:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/flexible-versatile-workers-will-be-key-for-future-job-types-report/article31419171/?click=sf_globefb

  • Are we living in a social economy, or a precarious one? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/are-we-living-in-a-social-economy-or-a-precarious-one/article31400928/
  • Employer jailed after failing to comply with order to pay wages:
    https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2016/08/employer-jailed-after-failing-to-comply-with-orders-to-pay-wages.html?utm_source=digest
  • London’s striking Deliveroo drivers are in a fight against exploitation and abuse in the sharing economy: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/08/deliveroo-strike-sharing-economy-living-wage/

Climate change and health: Extreme heat is a silent killer:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/climate-change-and-health-extreme-heat-a-silent-killer/article18343936/

  • Toronto a long way off from setting maximum temperature for city’s apartments: http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/08/17/maximum-temperature-laws-far-from-reality-in-toronto.html?cq_ck=1471386869478
  • Air conditioning should be required during heat waves, say advocates: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/should-cooling-be-required-during-heat-waves-1.3719006

Video: ODSP recipient in London can’t afford to pay his hydro bill:
http://london.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=931771

  • Ontarians owe more than $172.5 million in unpaid hydro bills: https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/08/17/ontarians-owe-more-than-1725-million-in-unpaid-hydro-bills.html
  • New data highlights hydro affordability crisis for rural Ontario: http://globalnews.ca/news/2888669/new-data-highlights-hydro-affordability-crisis-for-rural-ontario/
  • Chrysler CEO says high hydro costs make Ontario too expensive for business:
    http://news.nationalpost.com/news/chrysler-ceo-tells-kathleen-wynne-hydro-costs-making-ontario-too-expensive-for-businesses

BC’s poor need a break on hydro bills, says poverty expert:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-s-poor-need-a-break-on-hydro-bills-says-poverty-expert

  • BC Hydro rate increases opposed by coalition pressing for low-income relief:
    http://www.pressreader.com/@Margo_Bok/BVHF-4sNPeNUWwksGKYBiMAptVbFk1EYoQFgjuRIOVM1

Health care reform in Ontario must include oral health:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/05/18/health-reform-in-ontario-must-include-oral-health.html

Report shines a light on poverty’s role on kids in the Children’s Aid system:
https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/08/15/report-shines-light-on-povertys-role-on-kids-in-cas-system.html

  • Star editorial: Children’s aid societies should not discriminate against poor children: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/08/15/childrens-aid-societies-should-not-discriminate-against-poor-children-editorial.html
  • Letters: Poverty and breaking up homes: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2016/08/17/poverty-and-breaking-up-homes.html

City of Toronto says proposed provincial inclusionary zoning legislation developer tradeoffs unworkable:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/08/18/city-of-toronto-challenges-queens-park-over-affordable-housing.html

“I just feel hopeless. I have no idea what I’m going to do”: Saskatchewan residents with disabilities worried cuts may further threaten health:
http://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/disabled-sask-residents-with-special-diets-worried-said-cuts-may-further-threaten-health

  • Protest over cuts held at legislative building: http://leaderpost.com/news/politics/protest-over-said-cuts-held-at-legislative-building
  • Clawbacks a symptom of provincial austerity: http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/social-services-clawbacks-a-symptom-of-provincial-austerity-says-anti-poverty-group?platform=hootsuite
  • Group that helped bring in the program concerned over government cuts: http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/group-that-helped-bring-said-in-concerned-over-government-cuts-to-program
  • Changes to Saskatchewan disability benefits contrary to the consensus of the Advisory Group on Poverty Reduction:
    http://thestarphoenix.com/storyline/letter-to-the-editor-said-changes-contrary-to-consensus-write-advisory-group-on-poverty-reduction-members
  • Government extends timeline for social services program changes: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/timeline-social-services-changes-extended-saskatchewan-1.3717166

BC’s profound moral failure on disability rates, as budget changes go into effect in September:
http://www.thetyee.ca/Opinion/2016/08/15/Disability-Rates-Moral-Failure/

  • BC letter writer complains about having to pay for disability benefits: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/opinion/letters/389795841.html?mobile=true
  • Irate mother responds: http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/opinion/letters/390234251.html?mobile=true

Renters on social assistance or low income in Vancouver have to choose between shelter and food:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/low-income-renters-in-vancouver-face-difficultcalculations/article31400346/

Ontario migrant workers: Fields of dreams:
http://torontolife.com/city/life/ontario-migrant-workers/

Stats Can’s Employment Insurance numbers for June:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160818/dq160818a-eng.htm

  • Alberta EI beneficiaries decline for first time in 21 months: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-ei-benefits-june-2016-1.3726463

New Canada Child Benefit could boost back-to-school shopping:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/canadas-new-child-benefit-could-boost-back-to-school-shopping/article31460601/

 

Ontario

Legal aid lawyers locked in legal battle with province over unionization:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/08/13/legal-aid-lawyers-locked-in-legal-battle-with-province-over-unionization.html

  • Everyone deserves a voice at work: http://laolawyers.ca/updates/rabble-ca-everyone-deserves-a-voice-at-work/

Ontario helping internationally trained immigrants find jobs:
https://news.ontario.ca/mci/en/2016/08/ontario-helping-internationally-trained-immigrants-find-jobs.html

Unifor wants higher pay as Canadian auto talks begin:
http://www.labour-reporter.com/article/28258-unifor-wants-higher-pay-as-canadian-auto-talks-begin?platform=hootsuite

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Maytree policy brief: Would a universal basic income reduce poverty?
http://maytree.com/policy-and-insights/publications/policy-brief-basic-income.html

IRPP report: Beyond baby steps: Planning for a national child care system:
http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/july-2016/beyond-baby-steps-planning-for-a-national-child-care-system/

How rich or poor are you really? New OECD tool helps you compare:
http://thetyee.ca/Culture/2016/08/11/How-Rich-or-Poor-Are-You/

How to get a new social program idea through the federal maze:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/progressive-economics-forum/2016/08/pitching-new-social-program-ten-things-to-know-ab

August 31 Webinar: Advocating for poverty reduction the “rights” way: Lessons from Canada Without Poverty and Together Against Poverty in Society:
http://events.tamarackcommunity.ca/human-rights-poverty-reduction?platform=hootsuite

Survey: Urban Worker Project wants to k now what contract workers’ top issues are:
http://www.urbanworker.ca/survey

Report: What are the health, social and economic benefits of providing public housing and support to formerly homeless people:
http://homelesshub.ca/resource/what-are-health-social-and-economic-benefits-providing-public-housing-and-support-formerly

Good info on upcoming HUMA committee study on a national poverty reduction strategy:
http://vibrantcanada.ca/blogs/tamarack/government-canada-studying-poverty-reduction-strategies-request-appear-or-submit-brie

Angus Reid survey on technology replacing workers: Is the worst over or yet to come?
http://angusreid.org/technology-at-work/

 

Around the Province

The Ontario Works office in Niagara Falls is temporarily closed due to flooding:
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2016/08/18/ontario-works-office-temporarily-closed

Perth Cuonty Coalition Against Poverty needs tech support:
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/08/16/perth-county-coalition-against-poverty-needs-tech-support

Study aims to boost Waterloo Region’s affordable transit program:
http://torontoist.com/2016/08/poverty-reduction-library-hackathon-civic-tech/

Buying a home in the GTA requires a six-figure income:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/08/12/buying-a-home-in-the-gta-requires-a-six-figure-income.html

Hamilton releases a new food strategy with long-term priorities:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6806130-hamilton-serves-up-new-food-strategy-with-long-term-priorities/

Homeless and pregnant in Toronto: One woman tells her story:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/homeless-pregnant-1.3717484

Surveys show why we need to take the Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy seriously:
http://torontoist.com/2016/08/poverty-reduction-library-hackathon-civic-tech/

 

Across the Country

Editorial: Senior governments should get behind Vancouver’s social housing plans:
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-senior-governments-should-get-behind-vancouvers-social-housing-plans

BC research examines palliative care for people who are homeless:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/palliative-care-homeless-victoria-1.3721373

 

National

Poll: Canadians would change jobs for retirement benefits:
http://www.metronews.ca/life/money/2016/08/16/canadians-would-change-jobs-for-retirement-benefits.html

More women work in Canada than the US, and here’s why:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2887329/more-women-work-in-canada-than-the-u-s-heres-why/

  • Stats Can study: The Canada-US gap in women’s labour market participation, 1997 to 2015:
    http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160817/dq160817a-eng.htm

Broadbent blog: Canada’s middle-class jobs challenge:
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/andrew_ajackson/canada_middle_class_jobs_challenge

CRA search for offshore tax evasion aided by database, bank info:
http://www.advocatedaily.com/david-rotfleisch-cra-search-for-offshore-tax-evasion-aided-by-database-bank-info.html

Small business says CPP expansion is not so modest after all:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/cpp-increase-not-modest-according-100000447.html

Canada Post wins rural postmaster pension concession:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/08/16/canada-post-wins-rural-postmaster-pension-concession.html

 

International

Ecuador’s president proposes politicians using tax havens be made ineligible for office:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Ecuadors-Correa-Takes-Aim-at-Politicians-Utilizing-Tax-Havens-20160715-0008.html

  • Foreign Minister says $3 billion in tax havens could fund earthquake reconstruction: http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/37159-ecuador-foreign-minister-3b-in-tax-havens-could-fund-earthquake-reconstruction

Why countries need better social protection programs, rich or not:
https://www.devex.com/news/why-countries-need-better-social-protection-programs-rich-or-not-88543

A civil rights movement for the invisible people with disabilities:
http://marylandreporter.com/2016/08/16/opinion-a-civil-rights-movement-for-the-invisible-people-with-disabilities/

Irish mum who is homeless calls for welfare rules change to allow her to study:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/homeless-mum-calls-for-welfare-rules-change-to-allow-her-to-study-414847.html

UK’s PM May challenged to pursue social justice by breaking the link between disability and poverty:
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/08/want-social-justice-theresa-may-break-link-between-disability-and-poverty

Egypt government’s policies increase poverty, and the future for the poor seems bleak:
http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2016/08/10/government-policies-increase-poverty-future-poor-seems-bleak-expert/

Malta’s budget to focus on prosperity with social justice:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/68432/budget_2017_to_focus_on_prosperity_with_social_justice#.V634UqIsB-_

Survey: 70% of Tanzanian children live in poverty:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201608120154.html

How to help low-income people save for retirement:
http://nextbillion.net/how-to-help-low-income-people-to-save-for-retirement-make-it-personal/?platform=hootsuite

New Zealand’s most shameful secret: We have normalised child poverty:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/16/new-zealands-most-shameful-secret-we-have-normalised-child-poverty?CMP=share_btn_fb

New Zealand establishes ministry for vulnerable children amid poverty crisis:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/18/new-zealand-establishes-ministry-for-vulnerable-children-amid-poverty-crisis

Satellite images can map poverty:
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/08/satellite-images-can-map-poverty

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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.