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Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

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Media & Policy News: 24 February 2016

February 24, 2016

Top Stories

Ontario simplifies medical reviews for people on ODSP:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/18/ontario-simplifies-medical-reviews-for-people-on-disability-support.html

  • Star Editorial: Life just got a bit more compassionate. It’s about time: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/02/22/fix-for-ontarios-disability-program-is-long-overdue-editorial.html
  • Repeat: ISAC’s website post on our advocacy work, with partners, to get the medical review process fixed: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/improving-odsp-medical-reviews-amelioration-des-examens-medicaux-du-posph/

News from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva:

  • ISAC’s submission to the UN Committee highlights important income security failings: http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/canadas-record-on-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-isac-submission-to-un-committee/
  • 30 civil society groups making presentations on housing, poverty and justice as UN assesses Canada’s adherence to international obligations: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/18/canadian-groups-to-urge-un-to-press-canada-on-housing-poverty-and-justice.html
  • Advocates taking Canada’s housing policy to UN committee: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/20/advocates-taking-canadas-housing-policy-to-un.html
  • Right to Housing speech to the committee posted here: https://righttohousing.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/were-at-the-united-nations-review-of-canada/
  • Canada Without Poverty’s president delivers distressing address to UN committee: http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2016/02/cwp-president-delivers-distressing-address-to-un/
  • Hamilton UN report: http://hamiltonpoverty.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/UNCESCR-report-2016-final-25jan2016-2.pdf
  • Lack of safe drinking water means Canada violates human rights, say northern Ontario First Nations: http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2016/02/cwp-president-delivers-distressing-address-to-un/
  • Community coalition puts international spotlight on Canada’s racial inequality: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/community-coalition-putting-international-spotlight-on-canadas-racial-inequality-2098824.htm

Ontario Budget Preview: What to expect in Thursday’s provincial budget:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-budget-province-1.3461008

Child and family homelessness a hidden but growing crisis in Canada that requires comprehensive action, says new report:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/15/exclusive-family-homelessness-on-the-rise.html

  • Read the report here: http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c7e45eb4c541276bf4631afa0&id=a3c7125869&e=98f8b7083b

Op-Ed: Stage may be set for a serious discussion about basic income for all:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/11/the-stage-is-now-set-for-a-basic-income-for-all.html

  • Star editorial: Basic income is tempting, but it could backfire and undermine social justice efforts: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/02/12/basic-income-is-tempting-but-it-could-backfire-editorial.html
  • Armine Yalnizyan speaks with CBC’s David Common about the pros and cons of basic income: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/basic-income-1.3445429
  • Federal government invites expert on guaranteed income to present at pre-budget hearings: http://www.basicincomecanada.org/liberals_invite_basic_income_expert_to_speak_at_pre_budget_hearings

Trying to recover wages stolen by employers often futile as orders to pay are ignored:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/16/sweet-dream-turns-sour-for-victim-of-wage-theft.html

  • A model that works for tackling workplace abuse: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/18/in-bid-to-tackle-workplace-abuse-a-model-that-works.html

 

Ontario

Ontario establishing an anti-racism directorate:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/02/ontario-establishing-an-anti-racism-directorate.html

  • Op-Ed: Directorate is a promising start, but here’s what else needs to be done: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/19/ontarios-anti-racism-directorate-is-a-promising-start.html

Premier says jobs and the economy are her top priorities for this legislative session:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/15/wynne-says-jobs-economy-top-priorities-as-ontario-legislature-resumes-tuesday_n_9237738.html

Tory opposition leader says budget must include plan for affordable hydro:
http://www.ontariopc.com/News/Details/Budget-2016-Must-Include-Plan-for-Affordable-Hydro-Brown

Ontario colleges calling for increase to financial support for low-income students:
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ontario-must-increase-the-financial-support-for-low-income-students-568312851.html

CBC interview: Is the WSIB ignoring medical advice:
http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2683903367

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things

CCPA: Better is Always Possible: A federal plan to tackle poverty and inequality:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/better-always-possible

Migrant Worker fact sheets available by mail:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=9de587703062110954e080261&id=bc11e2e189

CLEO resources: Income support options for people with disabilities:
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=acaece29df8d07c95ef84a763&id=b681c3d056

 

Around the Province

Ottawa Gatineau food banks receive “incredible” donation after Loblaw convention:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-gatineau-food-banks-receive-incredible-donation-after-loblaw-convention

Ottawa ACORN says treat payday loan shops like strip clubs:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/reevely-treat-payday-lenders-like-strip-clubs-and-gradually-force-them-out-anti-poverty-group-says

Long waits in Ottawa leave baby’s crib in the closet, and man with disability finds accessible apartment after wheelchair loan:
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/tight-quarters-has-baby-sleeping-in-crib-in-moms-bedroom-closet

Ottawa man with autism waiting for group-home spot loses nearly all his teeth to disregard:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-man-with-autism-loses-teeth-after-left-to-rot-1.3442864

Ottawa transportation summit promotes equal access:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2016/02/23/transit-summit-promotes-equal-access.html

Mississauga Community Legal Services calls for overhaul to landlord-tenant relations:
http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/6272414-landlord-tenant-relations-in-need-of-overhaul/

WrapAround Simcoe program gets new home:
http://www.simcoereformer.ca/2016/02/12/new-home-for-wraparound-program

Waitlist for affordable housing in Windsor at record high:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/wait-for-affordable-housing-locally-at-record-high

People who are deafblind move into new apartments in Paris:
http://www.brantnews.com/news-story/6272369-coming-home/

OCAP report: The crisis in Toronto’s shelter system:
http://ocap.ca/node/4003

Toronto Transit looking to integrate Wheel-Trans customers into the conventional system:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/21/ttc-wants-to-integrate-wheel-trans-into-rest-of-transit.html

Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office head calls for Toronto mayor to do more on free breakfast program:
http://torontoobserver.ca/2016/02/10/mayor-tory-serves-up-free-breakfast-initiative/

Tenant mental health issues a struggle for Toronto Community Housing:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/09/mental-health-of-tenants-a-struggle-for-tchc.html

TCHC charged in fire that killed three seniors
http://globalnews.ca/news/2536037/toronto-community-housing-corporation-charged-in-fire-that-killed-3-seniors-sources/

 

Across the Country

What’s the worst city in Canada to find a job? Kelowna, BC:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/08/worst-city-to-find-job-canada_n_9189314.html

Halifax food bank looks for Arabic-speaking volunteers to better help Syrian refugees:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/parker-street-food-bank-needs-volunteers-1.3457794

Nunavut still has highest infant mortality rate in Canada:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-statistics-births-2012-1.3444255

Edmonton social housing stock in bad shape:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2016/02/21/edmonton-social-housing-stock-in-bad-shape.html

 

National

Advocacy group pulls out of consultations on the Canada Labour Code over government’s proposal to allow unpaid internships:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/09/federal-proposals-on-unpaid-internships-galling-advocates-say.html

Federal government won’t appeal human rights ruling on First Nation child welfare:
http://aptn.ca/news/2016/02/22/federal-government-wont-appeal-human-rights-ruling-on-first-nation-child-welfare/

Liberal government fully restores refugee health care program:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mcallum-philpott-interim-federal-health-program-refugees-1.3453397

  • Government’s news release: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1034619&tp=1

Amid an avalanche of lost jobs, confusion reigns about EI eligibility:
http://spon.ca/amid-avalanche-of-lost-jobs-confusion-reigns-about-ei-eligibility/2016/02/08/

Ottawa signals increase to benefits for low-income seniors:
http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/news/ottawa-signals-increase-benefits-low-income-seniors

Ottawa pledges $100 million to help end violence against indigenous women:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ontario-pledges-100-million-to-help-end-violence-against-indigenous-women-1.2789232

 

International

New report: Taxes on trial: How trade deals threaten tax justice:
http://www.globaltaxjustice.org/free-trade-deals-threaten-tax-justice/

Video: I live in real poverty, and it’s not what you think:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/video/2016/feb/24/i-live-in-real-poverty-and-its-not-what-you-think-video

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

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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.