Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

Media & Policy News: 25 Sepember 2015

Top Stories

Major growth in food bank use in Toronto suburbs reveals a geographical shift in poverty; suburban services are not keeping up; and note that fully 65% of food bank users have social assistance as their primary source of income:

London Public Health calls for an increase to social assistance rates due to rising cost of food:
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/09/18/london-families-paying-more-for-groceries

Ottawa ACORN calls for end to clawback of child support from social assistance benefits:
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/media-advisory-acorn-canada-single-mothers-on-ow-odsp-ottawa-are-demanding-ontario-liberal-2057945.htm

Vanishing Canada: A Maclean’s investigation into Ottawa’s “war on data”:
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/vanishing-canada-why-were-all-losers-in-ottawas-war-on-data/

Ontario Electricity Support Program starts January to support low income electricity consumers:
http://thesarniajournal.ca/new-program-to-help-low-income-households/

Times Colonist editorial: EI premiums are not taxes:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-ei-premiums-not-tax-revenues-1.2066095

Temp agency lobby group grilled at Changing Workplaces hearing:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/09/18/temp-agency-lobby-group-grilled-at-toronto-hearing.html?referrer=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FFAN9Hxghzd

Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff

Sept 29: Toronto federal election forum on disability and accessibility:
http://www.archdisabilitylaw.ca/node/1068

Upcoming webinars for NGOs on using social media:
http://globalngo.org/

Ontario

Large employers want clarification of rules for new Ontario Pension Plan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/large-employers-want-more-clarification-on-rules-for-new-ontario-pension-plan-1.3240827

Ontario announces funding for eight poverty reduction projects in Southwestern Ontario:
http://london.ctvnews.ca/province-pledges-2-million-to-aid-those-in-poverty-in-southwestern-ontario-1.2569807

Ontario announces funding for programs to help newcomers find jobs in Simcoe County:
http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5931011-ontario-helping-new-immigrants-in-simcoe-county-find-jobs/

Ontario announces funding for FoodShare Toronto program to support healthy nutrition:
http://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/09/ontario-partners-with-innovative-foodshare-toronto-to-support-healthy-nutrition.html

Around the Province

Hamilton doctor sues over claim WSIB wanted her to change medical opinion, constituting fraud:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5928759-fired-hamilton-doctor-sues-wsib-over-fraud-upon-the-public-/

Ottawa social services says bugs are being fixed in SAMS welfare computer system; 18 more months before system back to normal:
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/5924752-flawed-welfare-software-on-the-mend/

Users of Ottawa’s public disability transit system accuse city of discrimination in fares:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/paratranspo-user-accuses-city-of-discrimination-in-fares

St. Catherines mayor hosts “stomp out poverty” grape harvest event:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/09/20/mayors-get-together-to-stomp-out-poverty

Atkinson head tells Halton Poverty Roundtable forum a “new game plan” is needed to fight poverty:
http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/5931178-new-game-plan-needed-to-fight-poverty-atkinson-foundation-speaker-tells-oakville-audience/

Leamington program aims to help low-income kids get ahead:
http://blogs.windsorstar.com/news/breaking-the-cycle-of-poverty

Redevelop or sell social housing complexes? Upcoming report will tell Hamilton Council:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5914730-report-on-value-of-north-end-social-housing-lands-next-month/

London mayor considers diversifying poverty panel, but not yet:
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/09/23/poverty-panel-shakeup-possible

Northumberland training session looks at impact of poverty on families:
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2015/09/22/northumberland-training-session-looks-at-impact-of-poverty-on-families

Block blog: Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy can make progress on decent work:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/09/21/torontos-poverty-reduction-strategy-can-make-progress-on-decent-work/

Overdose deaths jump dramatically in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/09/21/toronto-overdose-deaths-jump-dramatically.html

Toronto Community Housing to “radically overhaul” its repairs program:
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2015/09/25/toronto-community-housing-to-radically-overhaul-its-repairs-program.html

Toronto police change how they deal with people in crisis:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5918670-toronto-police-change-how-officers-deal-with-those-in-crisis/

Across the Country

Yukon deaths expose the need for more affordable housing:
http://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/a-place-to-call-home-the-lack-of-housing-for-vulnerable-people

Nunavut looking to review how social assistance is delivered:
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavut_govenrment_to_review_how_it_delivers_welfare/

Newfoundland and Labrador leads the country in food security:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/n-l-leads-country-on-food-security-for-poor-research-says-1.3222545

Manitoba First Nations Children’s Advocate fasting to raise awareness:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/manitoba-first-nations-children-s-advocate-fasting-to-raise-awareness-1.2575655

Alberta’s 10-year plan to end homelessness falls short:
http://www.cbc.ca/m/news/canada/edmonton/10-year-plan-to-end-homelessness-in-alberta-falls-short-1.3223712

Edmonton City Council embraces plan to end poverty within a generation:
http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/city-council-embraces-plan-to-end-edmonton-poverty

BC Seniors Advocate says low-income seniors lack the basics for health:
http://www.timescolonist.com/life/islander/low-income-seniors-lack-health-basics-advocate-1.2057368

National

Did Canada’s corporate income tax cuts spur growth, as intended? Short answer: No:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/behind-numbers/2015/09/canadas-failed-experiment-corporate-income-tax-cuts

Multinational insurance company joins fight for $15 minimum wage:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/09/23/fight-for-fair-wages-finds-an-unlikely-new-ally.html

Woman with cancer seeks extension of EI Sickness benefits beyond 15 weeks:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2220842/should-employment-insurance-be-extended-for-cancer-patients/

Resource companies join with First Nations and others to urge veto for Indigenous people over development on their lands:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/give-indigenous-people-veto-power-over-development-on-their-lands-report-urges-1.3237105?cmp=rss

KPMG tax avoidance scheme could lead to criminal investigation:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpmg-tax-sham-could-lead-to-criminal-investigation-experts-say-1.3223371#vf-3000900001814

Are refugees really an economic burden to Canada? A reality check:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2228972/reality-check-are-refugees-an-economic-burden/

Making Employment Insurance work for migrant workers:
http://ourtimes.ca/Talking/article_424.php

Andrew Jackson: Labour Market Policy is about more than unemployment:
http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/andrew_ajackson/labour_market_policy_is_about_more_than_unemployment

Federal Election

Video: What’s being done for the working poor?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/canada-s-working-poor-1.3235267

Canada’s election and the return of activist government:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/09/18/canadas-election-and-the-return-of-activist-government-walkom.html

Ontario Municipal Social Services Administrators federal election site with party platform comparisons:
http://www.omssa.com/public-affairs/advocacy-government-relations/2015-federal-election/

Haliburton debate focuses on issues that would return Canada to a “kinder, gentler, outreaching country”:
http://mindentimes.ca/?p=7638

International

Low US wages are leaving millions of workers behind:
http://www.ibtimes.com/low-wages-are-leaving-millions-workers-behind-keeping-poverty-rate-recession-levels-2099936

Surge in homelessness tests Wisconsin’s “welcoming spirit”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/us/surge-in-homelessness-tests-wisconsin-capitals-welcoming-spirit.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=0

New UK Labour leader Corbyn vows to oppose Tory welfare cuts:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/jeremy-corbyn-scrap-welfare-cap-6505392

Poverty and climate change major contributors to Syrian refugee crisis:
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/technology/poverty+climate+change+contribute+crisis/11377946/story.html

Australian study shows arthritis may increase the risk of poverty, especially for women:
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/09/16/arthritis-may-increase-risk-of-poverty-especially-for-women

World Bank revises extreme poverty line upwards to $1.90 per day:
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/23/planets-poor-set-to-swell-as-world-bank-revises-poverty-line.html