Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

Media & Policy News: 2 February 2018

Top Stories

Poverty not a good reason to take Indigenous kids from parents: Bennett:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/poverty-not-a-good-reason-to-take-indigenous-kids-from-parents-bennett

Temp agency proposal at WSIB leaves workers vulnerable, legal clinics say:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/02/01/temp-agency-proposal-leaves-workers-vulnerable-legal-clinics-say.html

Inflation’s return could shock a generation that’s never seen it:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/inflation-canada-1.4505207

Nearly 100 homeless people died in Toronto in 2017:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/homeless-deaths-toronto-public-health-1.4509218

Editorial: Ontario badly botches affordable housing policy:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/01/26/ontario-badly-botches-affordable-housing-policy.html

Metro announces increase in automation to combat minimum wage hikes:
https://www.thestar.com/business/2018/01/30/metro-announces-increase-in-automation-to-combat-minimum-wage-hikes.html

Provisions in new Ontario labour laws up to interpretation, county councillor says:
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2018/02/01/provisions-in-new-ontario-labour-laws-up-to-interpretation-county-councillor-says

Your letters to the editor: Make quality child care affordable:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2018/02/01/your-letters-make-quality-child-care-affordable.html

Human rights tribunal says Ottawa fails to “grasp seriousness” of First Nations child welfare crisis:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/ottawa-fnchildwelfare-tribunal-1.4513951

Local Hamilton organizations make their 2018 budget pitches:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8099171-local-organizations-make-their-2018-budget-pitches/

 

Ontario

Ontario filled nearly 1 million prescriptions for free this month:
https://www.blogto.com/city/2018/01/ontario-filled-nearly-1-million-prescriptions-free-month/

Government document: Improvements to social assistance in 2017:
http://ssvp.on.ca/socjus/pdf/advocacy/2017-SOCIAL-ASSISTANCE-CHANGES.pdf

Two Ontario ministries to pull funding from African Canadian Legal Clinic:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2018/01/29/two-ontario-ministries-to-pull-funding-from-african-canadian-legal-clinic.html

Sun editorial: Ontario Tories do the right thing, but at their peril:
http://torontosun.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-ontario-tories-do-the-right-thing-but-at-their-peril

Christine Elliott, Caroline Mulroney to both run for PC leader:
http://www.680news.com/2018/02/01/caroline-mulroney-christine-elliott-run-ontario-pc-party-leadership/

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Information Alert: Arts grants now exempt in ODSP and OW:
http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/arts-grants-now-exempt-in-odsp-and-ow/

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

Petition: Tell Ontario to make planning regulations that will create affordable housing:
https://mailchi.mp/20a90a630562/tell-canadas-prime-minister-to-make-affordable-housing-a-human-right-1208313

January 31: Learn your legal rights and responsibilities in Family Law:
https://www.meetup.com/ontariobarassociation/events/246651052/

WAC: New workers’ rights training sessions in February and March 2018:
https://mailchi.mp/workersactioncentre/free-training-on-new-workers-rights-2757145?e=51059eb750

Global Labour Research Centre: Know your Employment Standards rights:
http://glrc.apps01.yorku.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/KYR-ESA-2018.pdf

When a landlord can take over a rental unit: Reasonable Doubt:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/when-a-landlord-can-take-over-a-rental-unit-reasonable-doubt/

Stats Can Study: How temporary were Canada’s temporary foreign workers?
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180129/dq180129b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Consumer Price Index: Annual review, 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180126/dq180126b-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Consumer Price Index, December 2017:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180126/dq180126a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Socialist Project pamphlet: Basic income in the neoliberal age:
https://socialistproject.ca/pamphlets/basic-income-neoliberal-age/

Study: Sorry Doctor, I Can’t Afford the Root Canal, I Have a Job: Canadian Dental Care Policy and the Working Poor:
http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/1964/2301

 

Around the Province

East Hamilton tenants rally to fight spike in rent:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8101055-east-hamilton-tenants-rally-to-fight-spike-in-rent/

“Hopefully somebody will take care of us”: Hamilton workers, retirees face uncertain future:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/hsb-receivership-stories-1.4510452

Dufferin County hosts first poverty reduction summit:
http://citizen.on.ca/?p=10834

Local data shows healthy food out of reach for many in North Bay:
https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/local-data-shows-healthy-food-out-of-reach-for-many-in-our-community-822641

Niagara Region questions CHPI funding from the province:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2018/01/31/region-questions-homeless-funding

Windsor must tackle poverty:
http://windsorstar.com/opinion/letters/reader-letter-windsor-must-tackle-poverty

Wynne peppered with town hall questions in Thunder Bay:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/wynne-peppered-with-town-hall-questions-827943

City of Toronto: Monitoring deaths of people experiencing homelessness:
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-inspections-monitoring/monitoring-deaths-of-homeless-people/

At-risk Toronto Community Housing tenants often treated unfairly, ombudsman says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/01/26/at-risk-toronto-community-housing-tenants-often-treated-unfairly-ombudsman-says.html

Where’s the oversight for TCHC repairs?
http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-wheres-the-oversight-for-tchc-repairs

Opposition to Toronto homeless shelter might be peak NIMBY:
http://www.metronews.ca/views/toronto/torys-toronto-matt-elliott/2018/01/28/matt-elliott-opposition-to-annex-homeless-shelter-might-be-peak-nimby.html

Survey of Toronto drop-in users highlights inner city needs:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/01/26/survey-of-toronto-drop-in-users-highlights-inner-city-needs.html

In the wake of #MeToo, a Toronto legal clinic sees “astronomical jump” in sexual assault help requests:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/in-the-wake-of-metoo-a-toronto-legal-clinic-sees-astronomical-jump-in-sexual-assault-help-requests-1.4508393

 

Across the Country

Mind the gap: St. John’s wage inequality worst in Atlantic Canada:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/st-johns-highest-wage-inequality-atlantic-canada-1.4507110

New Brunswick reveals $9.6 billion budget with 11th straight deficit, but no increase to social assistance rates:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/new-brunswick-reveals-96-billion-budget-with-11th-straight-deficit/article37786492/

Nova Scotia’s minimum wage going up to new high: The total increase is 15 cents an hour:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2018/01/31/nova-scotia-s-minimum-wage-going-up-to-new-high.html

Infographic: NS minimum wage to go up to $11 an hour in April:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1541645-infographic-n.s.-minimum-wage-to-go-up-to-11-an-hour-in-april

$15 minimum wage doable in Nova Scotia as long as we take it slow, says businessman:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-15-minimum-wage-possible-1.4513902

Caregiver benefits only in Nova Scotia:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/more/thriving-50/1539544-caregiver-benefits-only-in-n.s.

Winnipeg coffee shop responds to break-in by donating part of sales to homeless shelter:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/parlour-coffee-break-in-main-street-project-1.4515471?cmp=rss

Inflation, tax increase put pressure on Saskatchewan’s low-income residents: Economist:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-inflation-rate-high-1.4506386

New Saskatchewan premier has big to-do list, shifts party to the right:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/big-decisions-await-premier-designate-scott-moe-1.4507897

Onion Lake Cree Nation receives support of humanitarian group:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/onion-lake-cree-nation-receives-support-of-humanitarian-group

Homeless in Vancouver: Bureaucrats versus the car dwellers on Evans and Glen:
https://www.straight.com/life/1025871/homeless-vancouver-bureaucrats-versus-car-dwellers-evans-and-glen

Vancouver tenants find strength in numbers to fight soaring costs, evictions in city’s hot housing market:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-tenants-find-strength-in-numbers-to-fight-soaring-costs-evictions-in-city-s-hot-housing-market-1.4510463

Vancouver vigilantes take housing matters into their own hands:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/vancouver-vigilantes-take-housing-matters-into-their-own-hands/article37716250/

BC poverty reduction consultation meeting slated for Williams Lake February 2:
https://www.wltribune.com/news/poverty-reduction-consultation-meeting-slated-for-williams-lake/

Several ways Quesnel, BC residents can provide input on poverty reduction:
https://www.quesnelobserver.com/community/several-ways-area-residents-can-provide-input/

Poverty reduction focus of community meeting in Cranbrook, BC:
https://www.e-know.ca/regions/cranbrook/poverty-reduction-focus-community-meeting/

Preliminary count confirms more than 1,400 people in B.C. died after taking drugs in 2017:
https://www.straight.com/news/1026651/preliminary-count-confirms-more-1400-people-bc-died-after-taking-drugs-2017

Union donation helps Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition expand homelessness project:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/union-donation-yukon-anti-poverty-1.4507823

The Yukon has to find a way to pay for day care:
https://www.yukon-news.com/opinion/the-yukon-has-to-find-a-way-to-pay-for-day-care/

Some fear human rights decision on vouchers vs cash for social assistance payments will hurt families in the Beaufort Delta Region:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/aklavik-social-assistance-changes-1.4512287

 

National

Huge wasteful subsidies to corporations deplete funds for social programs:
http://rabble.ca/news/2018/01/huge-wasteful-subsidies-corporations-deplete-funds-social-programs

Federal analysis outlines how extra EI benefit program topped $1.92 billion: https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/federal-analysis-outlines-how-extra-ei-benefit-program-topped-1-92-billion-1.3782807

Andrew Scheer pitches tax break for new parents:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scheer-new-parents-tax-credit-1.4513881

Top CRA executives pocket $35,000 a year in performance pay:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/taxes-cra-executives-performance-pay-1.4509390

“Grossly unfair”: Disabled veterans take pension battle with Liberals to Supreme Court:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/disabled-veterans-equitas-supreme-court-1.4510457

Economy firing on all cylinders as Canada sees best growth in six months:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-rebounds-in-november-expands-04-per-cent/article37801536/?click=sf_globefb

Calls to amend bankruptcy and insolvency laws to better protect pensioners can no longer be ignored:
http://www.goderichsignalstar.com/2018/01/29/calls-to-amend-bankruptcy-and-insolvency-laws-can-no-longer-be-ignored

The Canadian company behind this Mongolian mine has avoided half a billion dollars in taxes, report:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8102347-the-canadian-company-behind-this-mongolian-mine-has-avoided-half-a-billion-dollars-in-taxes-report/

 

International

New Zealand PM announces targets with plan to halve child poverty within 10 years:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11985561

Australia’s Labor party considering options to peg minimum wage to median income:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/31/labor-considering-options-to-peg-minimum-wage-to-median-income

Three quarters of Australia food delivery riders earn less than minimum wage, union says:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-31/three-quarters-of-food-delivery-riders-earn-below-minimum-wage/9376116

White-collar unionization is good for all workers:
https://www.thenation.com/article/white-collar-unionization-is-good-for-everybody/

Where the US work-for-welfare movement is heading:
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20180128/281848644034704

How to end poverty in California – a $25 per hour minimum wage:
http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/How-to-end-poverty-in-California-12529383.php

America’s child poverty rate remains stubbornly high despite important progress:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-01-america-child-poverty-stubbornly-high.html

UK’s homelessness rise is “due to welfare reform”:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-5327441/Homelessness-rise-welfare-reform.html

Complaints about UK minimum wage violations double:
https://www.ft.com/content/dd9cb066-02be-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5

Food poverty: One in four UK parents have skipped meals in order to make ends meet, finds survey:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/food-poverty-parents-skip-meals-household-budget-debt-money-finances-feed-children-a8183426.html

Irish homeless charities faced with gagging order “stopping them criticising government policy”:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/homeless-charity-gagged-criticising-policy-dublin-government-statistics-wiki-a8181271.html

2.7 million German workers paid less than minimum wage in 2016, study finds:
https://www.thelocal.de/20180129/27-million-workers-paid-less-than-minimum-wage-in-2016-study-finds

Empowering the powerless: Let’s end energy poverty:
http://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/empowering-the-powerless-lets-end-energy-poverty