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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: 25 Sepember 2015

September 25, 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:

  • Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/09/21/hunger-in-toronto-is-a-tale-of-two-cities.html
  • Globe: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontos-food-banks-see-rising-demand-in-inner-suburbs/article26449685/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globefb
  • InsideToronto: http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5923730-poverty-is-making-a-new-home-in-toronto-s-suburbs-says-daily-break-food-bank-hunger-report/
  • Global: http://globalnews.ca/news/2232816/torontos-sky-high-housing-costs-shifts-hunger-poverty-to-the-suburbs-report/
  • Star editorial: We can stop hunger in Toronto: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/09/22/we-can-stop-hunger-in-toronto-editorial.html 

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

  • Voters with disabilities face challenges at the polls: http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/voters-with-disabilities-face-challenges-at-polls-advocates-say-1.2560098 

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

  • Osborne heads off Tory rebellion over welfare cuts: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2bd0a752-5bc7-11e5-a28b-50226830d644.html#axzz3mm8a5Qj9
  • Corbyn calls Conservative ministers “poverty deniers”:http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/sep/15/jeremy-corbyn-unions-tories-enemy-within-tuc
  • Welsh children in poverty twice as likely to score poorly on vocabulary tests:http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/children-living-poverty-twice-likely-10104399 

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

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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.