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