Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

Media & Policy News: 27 March 2015

Top Stories

Use this online tool to send a letter asking government to Save the ODSP Work-Related Benefit: http://www.odspaction.ca/action/save-the-wrb

Government announces creation of Ontario Energy Support Program:
http://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2015/03/ontario-to-remove-debt-retirement-charge-and-launch-low-income-electricity-support-program.html

Ottawa set to enforce four year limit on temporary foreign workers:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Ottawa+enforce+four+year+limit+temporary+foreign+workers/10907316/story.html

Workers welcome minimum wage indexation, but say the minimum wage is still not high enough:
http://www.workersactioncentre.org/updates/workers-welcome-indexation-announcement-but-say-minimum-wage-still-not-high-enough/

Outrage spurs feds to extend program, find alternate work for people with disabilities in Ottawa:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/19/federal-government-shutting-down-plant-that-employed-50-people-with-developmental-disabilities-for-35-years/

Ontario’s legal clinic system gets some much-needed investment:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/03/22/ontarios-legal-aid-system-gets-some-well-targeted-help-editorial.html

Reports, Publications, Events and Other Good Things

First-time author publishes residential school memoir:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/residential-school-survivors-memoir-details-decade-of-utter-cruelty/article23556082/

For a more accessible Ontario, use this toll-free line to report AODA violations:
http://www.aodaalliance.org/strong-effective-aoda/03232015.asp

WAC report launch March 31: “Still working on the edge: Rebuilding decent work from the ground up”:
http://www.workersactioncentre.org/updates/report-launch-still-working-on-the-edge-rebuilding-decent-work-from-the-ground-up/

April 17 Forum: “Needed: A Tommy Douglas for Dental Care”:
http://aohc.site-ym.com/events/event_details.asp?id=597336&lang=en

May 5 – One Day Workshop in Belleville: “Bridges Out of Poverty”:
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityLegalCentre/photos/a.248225495197311.67491.184030281616833/941190539234133/?type=1

Online petition on a national Pharmacare program:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/canada_pharmacare_b/?bzWieab&v=55477

New Stats Can report on food insecurity in Canada:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-624-x/2015001/article/14138-eng.pdf

Newly updated Citizens for Public Justice’s Advocacy Toolkit – order one here (note: cost associated):
http://cpj.ca/advocacy-toolkit

Canada Without Poverty’s next four-week Economic and Social Rights Education online course:
http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/economic-and-social-rights-online-course-spring-2015-tickets-14065218447?aff=erelexporg#

“The Price We Pay” documentary explores corporate tax avoidance schemes and pushback in Canada:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canadian-documentary-probes-corporate-tax-avoidance-schemes-1.2994246

Ontario

More coverage of problems with the new social assistance computer system:

Premier Wynne appoints Special Advisor on Community Hubs, as part of poverty reduction strategy:
http://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2015/03/premier-wynne-appoints-special-advisor-on-community-hubs.html

Ontario Crown wards to get free tuition for four years:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2013/06/25/crown_wards_will_get_free_tuition_for_four_years_to_attend_university_or_college.html?fb_ref=Default

Around the Province

North Bay pushes for more affordable housing: “I made $12,426 last year on Ontario Disability Support Program, but my rent receipt was $7,756. This is why we’re going to the food banks”
http://www.nugget.ca/2015/03/23/north-bay-pushes-for-affordable-housing

City of Ottawa says MCSS computer system has been “a costly failure”:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ontarios-welfare-computer-system-a-costly-failure-says-city-report

Toronto’s poverty reduction efforts discussed at Urban Alliance on Race Relations forum:
http://pridenews.ca/2015/03/25/tackling-poverty-and-unemployment-in-toronto/

Possible move to online housing system a good move, but not a full answer:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/councillor-bailao-looks-to-move-torontos-social-housing-system-online/article23576101/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe

London has the third highest percentage of people with low incomes among Ontario cities:
http://www.lfpress.com/2015/03/26/london-in-top-3-for-low-incomes

Residents in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood battle back-to-back  rent increases:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/03/22/parkdale-tenants-battle-back-to-back-rent-increases.html

University of Toronto Prof David Hulchanski sounds the alarm on income inequality in Toronto:
http://www.torontolife.com/informer/people/2015/03/24/qa-david-hulchanski-u-t-professor-sounding-alarm-income-inequality/

Across the Country

Vancouver’s mayor pledged to end street homelessness by March 2015. Unfortunately, he failed:
http://www.theprovince.com/life/Vancouver+mayor+Robertson+fails+homelessness+pledge+with/10910816/story.html

BC government’s announcement of new initiatives for single parent families (as reported here last week):
http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2015/03/significant-changes-announced-to-support-single-parents-on-assistance.html

The high cost of childcare in Newfoundland and Labrador is preventing return to work for many women:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/women-losing-job-experience-can-t-get-back-in-workforce-because-of-childcare-costs-1.3007958

Stats Can report on food insecurity (see above) finds fully one-third of Nunavut households insecure:http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/03/25/food-insecurity-canada_n_6940384.html?ir=Canada

PEI increases social assistance “personal comfort allowance” for first time since 2002 :
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/social-assistance-community-groups-get-970k-extra-funding-1.3009069

New Brunswick family says employers must be educated on the benefit of hiring people with disabilities:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1903476/educate-employers-on-the-benefits-of-hiring-persons-with-disabilities-ability-n-b/

EI claims on the rise in Alberta:
http://calgaryherald.com/business/local-business/employment-insurance-claims-on-the-rise-in-alberta

National

NHS-based Stats Can study examines low-income by country of origin and the factors at work:
http://www.insidehalton.com/news-story/5517590-government-studies-immigrant-incomes-by-where-they-come-from/

Canada’s economy could actually contract in the first quarter of this year:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/canadas-economy-could-actually-shrink-in-the-first-quarter/article23573902/

International

Welfare systems should be about human rights, not just benefits:
http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2015/mar/17/welfare-human-rights-benefits-social-work

One in ten Scots live in “severe” poverty:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-31908888

Stephen King calls for higher taxes on the wealthy, like him:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/may/01/stephen-king-tax-the-rich

Sunday Times book review: “The Age of Acquiescence: The Life and Death of American Resistance to Organized Wealth and Power”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/books/review/the-age-of-acquiescence-by-steve-fraser.html?_r=0

New Zealand Minister Paula Bennett says irresponsible parenting is to blame for child poverty:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/67483679/paula-bennett-says-irresponsible-parenting-is-to-blame-for-child-poverty