• 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: 19 January 2018

January 19, 2018

Top Stories

Income Security Reform – Sign the Petition: Make Ontario a world leader in social assistance and income security:
https://www.change.org/p/kathleen-wynne-make-ontario-a-world-leader-in-social-assistance-and-income-security

Affordable Housing – Sign the petition: Tell the Ontario government to make planning regulations that will create affordable housing:
https://www.acto.ca/campaign/inclusionaryzoning/#

Ontario’s affordable housing plan “achieves the exact opposite,” say City of Toronto councillors:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/01/16/provinces-affordable-housing-plan-achieves-the-exact-opposite-councillors-say.html

  • Lorinc: Wynne’s Liberals gut their own affordable housing policy: http://spacing.ca/toronto/2018/01/17/lorinc-wynnes-liberals-gut-affordable-housing-policy/

Most Ontarians back minimum wage hike, say it will benefit the economy:
http://business.financialpost.com/news/economy/most-ontarians-back-minimum-wage-hike-say-it-will-benefit-the-economy

  • Tim Hortons minimum wage rallies planned across Ontario and the GTA: https://www.insauga.com/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-rallies-planned-across-ontario-and-in-the-gta
  • Tim Hortons minimum wage actions spark another round of protests: https://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=1304276
  • Tim Hortons franchise owners tell workers to blame Wynne for benefit cuts and to “not vote Liberal”: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-hike-ontario-government-1.4493436
  • Tim Hortons’ response undermines health: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/01/19/tim-hortons-response-undermines-health.html
  • Tim Hortons clawbacks raise the question: Who’s the boss?: https://www.thestar.com/news/analysis/2018/01/14/tim-hortons-clawbacks-beg-the-question-whos-the-boss.html
  • Sunset Grill says tip clawback after minimum wage hike bridges “unfair” pay gap: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/sunset-grill-tip-clawback-ontario-minimum-wage-1.4488144
  • “It’s the right thing to do”: JJ Bean gives Ontario minimum wage to Vancouver staff: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/jj-bean-coffee-wage-increase-hike-1.4486070
  • Asian supermarket giant reverses decision to cut paid breaks: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/01/18/asian-supermarket-giant-reverses-decision-to-cut-paid-breaks.html
  • Wynne criticizes Tim Hortons franchisee, says workers shouldn’t be pawns: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wynne-criticizes-tim-hortons-franchisee-says-workers-shouldnt-be-pawns/article37666259/
  • Employee rights hotline open for Sudbury workers: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/sudbury-employee-rights-hotline-1.4488122
  • Hands off our tips! http://rankandfile.ca/2018/01/17/hands-off-our-tips/
  • Auto workers say Ontario’s new sick leave laws are unfair to them, hold protest at Peterborough MPPs office: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2018/01/18/auto-workers-say-ontarios-new-sick-leave-laws-are-unfair-to-them-hold-protest-at-peterborough-mpps-office
  • Planning for Progress: Minimum wage increase is a correction long overdue: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2018/01/17/planning-for-progress-minimum-wage-increase-is-a-correction-long-overdue/#.Wl-hoBdwyWk.facebook
  • Ontario Chamber of Commerce calls for further offset measures to keep Ontario competitive: http://kawarthachamber.ca/offset-measures-needed-upcoming-budget-keep-ontario-competitive/
  • New “equal pay for equal work” provisions in Ontario limit ability to vary employees’ pay based on employment status: https://www.bennettjones.com/en/Blogs-Section/New-Equal-Pay-for-Equal-Work-Provisions-in-Ontario
  • Ontario homes for disabled “in real trouble” because of minimum wage hike: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/sb-managing/ontario-homes-for-disabled-in-real-trouble-because-of-minimum-wage-hike/article37655699/
  • Ontario daycare fees jump even higher on minimum wage hike: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/01/16/daycare-fees_a_23334694/
  • Ontario may provide public sectors with more minimum wage help: Wynne: https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-may-provide-public-sectors-with-more-minimum-wage-help-wynne-1.3763917
  • Minister acknowledges “challenges” to families as daycares raise costs due to minimum wage hike: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/daycare-costs-minimum-wage-hike-1.4488693
  • Opinion: Minimum wage increase really a tax grab: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/opinion-minimum-wage-increase-really-a-tax-grab-813924
  • Stoufville businesses feeling the squeeze from minimum wage increase: https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/8075739-stouffville-businesses-feeling-the-squeeze-from-minimum-wage-increase/
  • Richmond Hill businesses feeling effects of minimum wage hike: https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/8074310-richmond-hill-businesses-feeling-effects-of-minimum-wage-hike/
  • North Bay Chamber feels pinch of minimum wage increase: https://www.mynorthbaynow.com/26510/north-bay-chamber-feels-pinch-minimum-wage-increase/
  • Timmins business owners: “It’s really killing us”: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2018/01/16/its-really-killing-us–minimum-wage-hike
  • Full financial impact of higher minimum wage still months away, businesses say: https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8050510-full-financial-impact-of-higher-minimum-wage-still-months-away-businesses-say/
  • How minimum wage workers are spending their pay increase: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/how-ontario-minimum-wage-workers-are-spending-their-payincrease/article37664009/
  • In minimum wage debate, gender wage gap is being forgotten: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/01/14/in-minimum-wage-debate-gender-wage-gap-is-being-forgotten.html
  • The five big claims against boosting minimum wage, debunked: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/01/15/analysis/five-big-claims-against-boosting-minimum-wage-debunked
  • Evidence suggests minimum wage hikes don’t kill jobs: http://m.thechronicleherald.ca/letters/1536449-reader%E2%80%99s-corner-evidence-suggests-minimum-wage-hikes-don%E2%80%99t-kill-jobs
  • Economically and morally, the minimum wage hike makes perfect sense: https://ipolitics.ca/2018/01/12/economically-morally-minimum-wage-hike-makes-perfect-sense/
  • Ontario hiring more officers to crack down on firms violating new labour laws, upping fines: https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/ontario-hiring-officers-crack-firms-violating-new-labour-laws-upping-fines-206765/
  • Ontario Tories deny charge they’ll rescind $14 wage: https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8050115-ontario-tories-deny-charge-they-ll-rescind-14-wage/
  • How the minimum wage hike is playing out politically: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tim-hortons-minimum-wage-ontario-election-1.4485045
  • The unfinished business of labour law reform in Ontario: A strategy for implementing sectoral bargaining: https://canadafactcheck.ca/bill148ontariolabourlawsectoralbargaining/

The inexcusable treatment of Sears employees: A cautionary tale:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-inexcusable-treatment-of-sears-employees-a-cautionary-tale/article37661479/

  • Sears Canada paid hundreds of millions in dividends as pension fund suffered: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/01/17/sears-canada-paid-hundreds-of-millions-in-dividends-as-pension-fund-suffered_a_23336045/
  • $611 million in Sears Canada dividend payments under review by court monitor: https://www.thewesternstar.com/news/611-million-in-sears-canada-dividend-payments-under-review-by-court-monitor-178069/
  • Sears Canada’s legacy: Private profits and socialized losses: http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/jen-gerson-sears-canadas-legacy-private-profits-and-socialized-losses
  • Sears closes final stores: https://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-law/industrial-relations/sears-canada-closes-final-stores-236250.aspx

Quebec raising minimum wage to $12 an hour as of May 1:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/quebec-raising-minimum-wage-to-12-as-of-may-1/article37652041/

  • Employers worried new minimum wage will hit their businesses hard: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/employers-worried-new-12-minimum-wage-will-hit-their-businesses-hard-1.4492355
  • Montreal performers join Fight for $15 minimum wage benefit: http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-performers-join-fight-for-15-minimum-wage-benefit
  • 60% of those who will benefit from higher minimum wage will be women, Quebec says: http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebecs-minimum-wage-will-rise-to-12-on-may-1

Ottawa tightens rules on housing foreign farm workers:
https://www.country-guide.ca/daily/ottawa-tightens-rules-on-housing-foreign-farm-workers

  • The cruel trade-off at your local produce aisle: http://theconversation.com/the-cruel-trade-off-at-your-local-produce-aisle-90083

Many Canadian cities avoid Toronto’s homeless shelter crisis by focusing on housing: Advocate:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/other-canadian-cities-avoid-torontos-homeless-shelter-crisis-by-focusing-on-housing-advocate/article37598769/

  • “It’s safer out here”: People who are homeless in Toronto brave the cold rather than stay in dangerous shelters: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/appview/news/toronto/torontos-homeless-brave-the-cold-rather-than-stay-in-dangerousshelters/article37601534/
  • Death from freezing on the rise in Winnipeg: http://winnipegsun.com/opinion/columnists/death-from-freezing-on-the-rise-in-the-city

Discriminating against the poor is legal. That must change:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/elizabeth-mcisaac/discriminating-against-the-poor-is-legal-that-must-change_a_23330852/

Supreme Court case could lead to First Nations role in law-making:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/supreme-court-case-could-lead-to-first-nations-role-in-law-making-1.3758863

Ontario

Star editorial: A hopeful moment in the fight against mental illness:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/01/14/a-hopeful-moment-in-the-fight-against-mental-illness.html

Ontario Human Rights Commission obtains Tribunal Consent Order to keep people with mental health disabilities out of segregation:
http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-obtains-tribunal-consent-order-keep-people-mental-health-disabilities-out-segregation

  • Ontario to stop placing inmates with mental health disabilities in solitary confinement: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/01/18/ontario-to-stop-placing-inmates-with-mental-health-disabilities-in-solitary-confinement.html

Black Legal Action Centre to engage with community to discover what is needed most in legal clinic:
https://www.thelawyersdaily.ca/articles/5671/black-legal-action-centre-to-engage-with-community-to-discover-what-is-needed-most-in-legal-clinic

Over 4400 types of drugs now covered for people under 25:
https://excal.on.ca/over-4400-types-of-drugs-now-covered-for-people-under-25/

  • Pharmacare and minimum wage help Wynne’s Liberals: Poll: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/01/12/poll-suggests-pharmacare-and-minimum-wage-help-wynnes-liberals.html

Government release: Women promoted to Cabinet in key government roles:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/01/women-promoted-to-cabinet-in-key-government-roles.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

January 19: National Day of Action: Stand with Tim Hortons Workers:
http://www.15andfairness.org/national_day_of_action_tim_hortons

Stats Can Blog: 2017: The year in statistics:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/171222/dq171222h-eng.htm

Stats Can: Employment Insurance, November 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180118/dq180118a-eng.htm

 

Around the Province

Survey to focus on oral health in Windsor-Essex:
https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/survey-to-focus-on-oral-health-in-windsor-essex-1.3761790

Renting to a “different demographic” in Hamilton:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8074401-renting-to-a-different-demographic-in-hamilton/

Boost social services to prevent shootings, says crime expert in the wake of six Ottawa shootings:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/shootings-two-weeks-2018-1.4487082

Toronto’s rental market now the most expensive in Canada:
https://www.blogto.com/city/2018/01/toronto-most-expensive-city-apartment-rent-canada/

  • Toronto renters pushed to the 905 as vacancies hit 16-year low: Report: https://www.thestar.com/business/real_estate/2018/01/12/renters-pushed-to-the-905-as-vacancies-hit-16-year-low-report.html
  • New year, same old expensive rent in Toronto. Weren’t we fixing this?: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/rent-expensive-toronto-2018-1.4491949
  • Toronto rental rates now exceed Vancouver’s, as housing shortage persists: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/01/16/toronto-rental-rates-now-exceed-vancouvers-as-housing-shortage-persists_a_23335078/

East Toronto residents outline priorities for 2018 budget at meeting:
https://www.insidetoronto.com/community-story/8076437-east-toronto-residents-outline-priorities-for-2018-budget-at-meeting/

Toronto Transit Commission posts $73 million budget surplus due to drop in Wheel-Trans demand, clampdown on benefits fraud:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ttc-surplus-thanks-to-fewer-wheeltrans-rides-and-benefits-fraud-investigation-1.4485791

TDSB to consider extended-day programs for kids 4 to 12 starting this fall:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/01/16/tsbd-to-consider-extended-day-programs-for-kids-4-to-12-starting-this-fall.html

Winter in Ontario: Homelessness doesn’t end in April:
https://www.globalresearch.ca/winter-in-ontario-homelessness-doesnt-end-in-april/5626073

 

Across the Country

BC government release: Getting to work on BC’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2017SDPR0064-001828

  • Ways to participate: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcpovertyreduction/
  • BC Poverty Reduction Coalition: Now’s Our Chance – a full list of consultation dates, and resources on providing feedback: http://bcpovertyreduction.ca/take-action/povertyreductionconsultation/
  • BC Raise the Rates Coalition: Take Action: https://raisetherates.org/take-action/
  • Brainstorming ideas in the Comox Valley: https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/brainstorming-ideas-for-poverty-reduction-strategy/
  • Poverty minister visits Terrace: http://www.cftktv.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=2190188
  • Bulkley Valley residents talk poverty reduction: https://www.interior-news.com/news/bulkley-residents-talk-poverty-reduction/
  • BC Poverty Reduction Strategy meetings arrive in the North: https://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/65579/bc-poverty-reduction-strategy-meetings-arrive-north/
  • Province seeks public opinion on poverty: https://www.terracestandard.com/trending-now/province-seeks-public-opinion-on-poverty/

Can more housing supply resolve the affordability crisis in Vancouver?:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/can-more-housing-supply-resolve-the-affordability-crisis-in-vancouver/article37601341/

It’s “really problematic” to blame foreigners for Vancouver’s housing crisis, says UBC sociologist:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/foreign-buyer-ban-not-the-solution-says-ubc-sociologist-1.4489031

Iqaluit high school fights food insecurity with free hot lunch program:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/inuksuk-high-school-lunch-program-1.4480160?cmp=rss

Number of EI beneficiaries in Saskatchewan rises in November:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3972943/employment-insurance-beneficiaries-saskatchewan-november/

Unemployed Sask resident upset with province’s cuts to job-training programs:
http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/unemployed-sask-resident-upset-with-provinces-cuts-to-job-training-programs

Sask Party leadership candidates disuss homelessness:
http://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewan/sask-party-candidates-discuss-homelessness

Alberta Burger King franchise keeps workers in the basement:
https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/216559/Workers-kept-in-basement

Edmonton EI claims jump in November, driving Alberta increase:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-edmonton-employment-insurance-statistics-canada-1.4492888

Manitoba addictions recovery centre would rely on fundraising, social assistance to offer treatment to some at no cost:
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/addictions-recovery-centre-would-rely-on-fundraising-social-assistance-to-offer-treatment-to-some-at-no-cost-1.3764444

Deal with poverty, affordability issues to improve health care for Manitobans:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mental-health-access-hospital-ndp-town-hall-1.4486615

New Brunswick to subsidize daycare for middle-class families:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/daycare-middle-income-families-1.4491446

Minimum wage protest organizer calls Nova Scotia a “low-wage ghetto”:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1537364-minimum-wage-protest-organizer-calls-n.s.-%E2%80%98low-wage-ghetto%E2%80%99

Program brightens oral health for mentally ill patients in Pictou County, NS:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1536662-program-brightens-oral-health-for-mentally-ill-patients

Crushing poverty: A How-to Guide for Nova Scotia:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1536257-opinion-crushing-poverty-%E2%80%94-a-how-to-guide

 

National

The CRA makes it so hard to get the disability tax credit, many don’t even try:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3956042/cra-disability-tax-credit-canada/

Trudeau government’s “pension-for-life” for injured veterans won’t start until 2019:
https://globalnews.ca/news/3926904/injured-veterans-pensions/

18 months an option for mat leave, but be prepared for lower weekly benefits:
https://www.thetelegram.com/business/18-months-an-option-for-mat-leave-but-be-prepared-for-lower-weekly-benefits-178393/

Why not all parents benefit from Canada’s parental-leave program:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/why-not-all-parents-benefit-from-canadas-parental-leave-program

Anti-poverty activists share dream but live totally different lives:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/12/26/anti-poverty-activists-share-dream-but-live-totally-different-lives.html

Opinion: Why Ontario’s first modern-day treaty is set up to fail:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/why-ontarios-first-modern-day-treaty-is-set-up-to-fail

What will Canada’s new accessibility law in 2018 look like?:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/12/29/what-will-canadas-new-accessibility-law-in-2018-look-like.html

Loblaws in $400 million tax fight with CRA over claims it set up bogus offshore bank:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/loblaws-cra-glenhuron-bank-barbados-tax-1.4490564

These provinces led in economic growth. They also price carbon pollution:
https://www.hilltimes.com/2018/01/17/provinces-led-economic-growth-also-price-carbon-pollution/131297

Canada’s economy to “wane” says internal memo to finance minister:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gdp-morneau-canada-growth-labour-women-productivity-1.4483411

 

International

To get Medicaid in Kentucky, many will have to work. Advocates for the poor say they will sue:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/12/health/kentucky-medicaid-work.html

More US workers say their bosses are threatening to have them deported:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-immigration-retaliation-20180102-story.html

Wisconsin Governor pushes welfare overhaul to include work requirement for parents on food stamps:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/18/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-pushes-welfare-overhaul-and-work-rule-food-stamp-parents/1043864001/

US House Speaker urges bid to move people “from welfare to work” this year:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-18/ryan-urges-bid-to-move-people-from-welfare-to-work-this-year

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says welfare entitlement reform not in 2018 agenda:
https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-welfare-entitlement-reform-not-on-2018-agenda-1515110765-9a16d739-0de8-45bf-a83f-ada4d60415db.html

Scotland united in curiosity as councils trial universal basic income:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/25/scotland-universal-basic-income-councils-pilot-scheme

Experts say basic income could reach mainstream politics in 2018:
https://futurism.com/experts-basic-income-reach-mainstream-politics-2018/

Radical plan for a Universal Basic Income backed by UK right-wing think tank:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/radical-plan-universal-basic-income-11876785

Unions call denial of minimum wage to North Sea workers “national disgrace”:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/18/unions-call-denial-of-minimum-wage-to-north-sea-workers-national-disgrace

UK’s Centrelink gave companies accused of exploitation direct access to welfare payments:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/17/centrelink-allowed-companies-accused-exploitation-deduct-payments-welfare

Minister for loneliness appointed to continue late UK MP Joe Cox’s work:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42708507

Workers and bosses in Thailand joust over minimum wage increases:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1398122/workers-bosses-joust-over-minimum-wage-increases

Progress against hunger, poverty hinges on empowering Indigenous women: UN agriculture chief:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=58422#.WmI2qK6nFEY

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.