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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 29 June 2018

June 29, 2018

Top Stories

Ontario Election

“Doug Ford and Cabinet to be Sworn-in as Ontario’s First Ever Government for the People”:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2018/06/doug-ford-and-cabinet-to-be-sworn-in-as-ontarios-first-ever-government-for-the-people.html

  • Doug Ford sworn in as Ontario premier: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/29/doug-ford-sworn-in-as-ontario-premier.html

Doug Ford will move “quite rapidly” once he’s officially Ontario’s premier, expert says:
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/06/28/doug-ford-premier_a_23470278/

Ontario government hiring freeze ices plan to strengthen workplace inspections:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/29/ontario-government-hiring-freeze-ices-plan-to-strengthen-workplace-inspections.html

  • Here’s the expenditure restrictions memo from the Secretary of the Cabinet: https://www.ontario.ca/page/news-secretary#2018-june-18

The flip side of Ford’s content-free campaign: Unpleasant surprises may be in store:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-flip-side-of-fords-content-free-campaign-unpleasant-surprises-may-be-in-store

Forget the 416 – Doug Ford says his biggest fans are outside of Toronto:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-toronto-centric-1.4572698

Ford fails to seize opportunity to lower Ontario’s electricity costs by $1.1 billion per year:
http://www.cleanairalliance.org/ford-fails-to-seize-opportunity-to-lower-ontarios-electricity-costs-by-1-1-billion-per-year/

5 ways the Ontario election made history:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/5-ways-the-ontario-election-made-history-1.3965277

  • Navigator election analysis: What it all means: https://www.navltd.com/insights/electionanalysis2018/
  • The rise and fall of Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/06/22/the-rise-and-fall-of-kathleen-wynnes-liberals.html
  • Wynne joins list of female premiers who have never succeeded in re-election bids: https://ipolitics.ca/article/wynne-joins-list-of-female-premiers-who-have-never-succeeded-in-re-election-bids/
  • Message received, now Ontario’s Liberal party will try to reconnect with voters: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/18/messaged-received-now-ontarios-liberal-party-will-try-to-reconnect-with-voters.html
  • An insider peek at Wynne’s losing campaign: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/06/27/an-insider-peek-at-wynnes-losing-campaign.html

 

Other Ontario

Toronto’s overcrowded shelter system can’t handle more refugees, Tory’s letter to feds says:
https://www.cp24.com/news/toronto-s-overcrowded-shelter-system-can-t-handle-more-refugees-tory-s-letter-to-feds-says-1.3988924

Ottawa says it can’t help with Toronto migrant problem until Doug Ford takes office:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-tory-warns-torontos-shelter-system-cannot-accommodate-new-asylum/

  • Letters to the Editor: Seeing red over closure of Green Ontario Fund:
    https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2018/06/23/seeing-red-over-closing.html
  • ‘Assault on green energy:’ Industry slams Doug Ford’s decision to cancel incentives:
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/industry-slams-doug-ford-green-energy-assult-1.4719298?cmp=FB_Post_News
  • Ontario’s Doug Ford strands ‘thousands’ on waiting list for solar, says industry group:
    https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/06/21/news/ontarios-doug-ford-strands-thousands-waiting-list-solar-says-industry-group
  • Horwath wants fiscal watchdog to tally price tag of Ford’s plan to scrap cap-and-trade system: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/26/horwath-wants-fiscal-watchdog-to-tally-price-tag-of-fords-plan-to-scrap-cap-and-trade-system.html

Good job prospects improving in the GTA – but only for some, report finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/19/good-job-prospects-improving-in-the-gta-but-only-for-some-report-finds.html

  • Editorial: The problem with Ontario’s selective prosperity: http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8682079-editorial-the-problem-with-ontario-s-selective-prosperity/

Despite minimum wage fears, student job market looks good:
http://lfpress.com/news/local-news/despite-minimum-wage-fears-student-job-market-looks-good

  • How did businesses in Ontario handle the January minimum-wage increase?: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-how-did-businesses-in-ontario-handle-the-january-minimum-wage-increase/

Students in poorer neighbourhoods may miss out on vital programs, report says:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/25/students-in-poorer-neighbourhoods-may-miss-out-on-vital-programs-report-says.html

Research finds low prevalence of retirement wealth among Ontarians:
https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/research-finds-low-prevalence-of-retirement-wealth-among-ontarians-116229

Bombardier, Toronto union reach new agreement, averting strike:
http://www.euronews.com/2018/06/25/bombardier-toronto-union-reach-new-agreement-averting-strike

Should Ontario sell the rest of Hydro One? Yes:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/26/should-ontario-sell-the-rest-of-hydro-one-yes.html

 

Other Top Stories

Lack of licensed care creates daycare “deserts” across Canada:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/28/lack-of-licensed-care-creates-daycare-deserts-across-canada.html

  • Here’s the report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/child-care-deserts-canada
  • Here’s the interactive map: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/childcaredeserts

Canada Revenue Agency falling behind as uncollected taxes owed rise to $44 billion:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tax-debt-liberal-budget-collections-1.4715967

  • Canadians with offshore holdings evade up to $3 billion in tax per year: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/28/canadians-with-offshore-holdings-evade-up-to-3-billion-in-tax-per-year.html
  • Wealthy Canadians hiding up to $240 billion abroad, CRA says: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/cra-tax-gap-foreign-holdings-1.4726983

Disabled Canadians could be waiting months for money owed by Canada Revenue Agency:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/disability-tax-credit-delay-1.4725374

  • Canada’s disability tax credit program needs major overhaul, Senate committee urges: https://globalnews.ca/news/4300107/senate-committee-feds-reform-programs-people-disabilities/

Morneau under pressure to match Trump’s tax cut as finance ministers meet:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/morneau-corporate-tax-trump-1.4721692

UN housing watchdog chides Liberals for watering down rights in housing strategy:
https://ipolitics.ca/2018/06/25/un-housing-watchdog-chides-liberals-for-watering-down-rights-in-housing-strategy/

Canada’s investments in social programs now rank near the bottom of the industrialized world:
http://pressprogress.ca/canadas-investments-in-social-programs-now-rank-near-the-bottom-of-the-industrialized-world/

Federal government tables Canada’s first national accessibility law:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-federal-government-tables-canadas-first-national-accessibility-law/

In praise of dead-end jobs:
https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/in-praise-of-dead-end-jobs/

Why Canada doesn’t have a national pharmacare program, and why we need one:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thesundayedition/the-sunday-edition-june-24-2018-1.4707857/why-canada-doesn-t-have-a-national-pharmacare-program-and-why-we-need-one-1.4716559

Hiring refugees is an opportunity for Canadian businesses:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/25/hiring-refugees-is-an-opportunity-for-canadian-businesses.html

Nearly half of youth incarcerated nationwide are Indigenous: Statistics Canada:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/canada/nearly-half-of-youth-incarcerated-are-indigenous-statistics-canada/wcm/a96e1df6-80a7-454a-ae40-24af26017b95

RCMP Commissioner apologizes to families of missing and murdered Indigenous women:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/25/rcmp-commissioner-apologizes-to-families-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women.html

Unionized Bombardier staff secure pension, dental benefits improvements:
https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/unionized-bombardier-staff-secure-pension-dental-benefits-improvements-116356

Star editorial: Quebec shows the way to fight child poverty:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/06/24/how-to-end-child-poverty.html

Reconciliation is key for Canada’s poverty plan:
https://dignityforall.ca/reconciliation-is-key-for-canadas-poverty-plan/

Disability rights advocates welcome national legislation:
https://dignityforall.ca/reconciliation-is-key-for-canadas-poverty-plan/

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Support the East Hamilton Tenants Rent Strike:
https://ca.gofundme.com/easthamiltonrentstrike

Stats Can: Wages by occupation, 2017:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180626/dq180626a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Stats Can: Payroll employment, earnings and hours, April 2018:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180628/dq180628a-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Community Consultations on Toronto’s next Poverty Reduction Strategy:
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/long-term-vision-plans-and-strategies/poverty-reduction-strategy/

  • Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy Consultation Guide: https://s.cotsurvey.chkmkt.com/?e=125553&h=C7A85489A6FC298&l=en

Stats Can: Pension plans in Canada, as of January 1, 2017:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180627/dq180627e-eng.htm?CMP=mstatcan

Homeless Hub newsletter: A shared housing agenda: Priorities for Ontario in 2018:
https://mailchi.mp/edu/toward-provincial-leadership-on-affordable-housing?e=6da7d6f883

Inflated figures, inflated opposition: How claims about welfare benefit levels affect public opinion: Study:
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/how-claims-about-welfare-benefit-levels-affect-public-opinion/

 

Around the Province

Toronto parents left scrambling as daycare announces closure:
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2018/06/26/humberside-daycare-closure/

More than half of refugee claimants in Toronto’s temporary shelters are children, new figures show:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/06/26/more-than-half-of-refugee-claimants-in-torontos-temporary-shelters-are-children-new-figures-show.html

Toronto programs aimed at helping black students facing disciplinary issues can wipe slates clean:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-programs-aimed-at-helping-black-students-facing-disciplinary-issues/

Rooming house pilot aims to give Parkdale tenants ‘fighting chance’:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/18/rooming-house-pilot-aims-to-give-parkdale-tenants-fighting-chance.html

Crossways tenants in Toronto taking landlord to court to stop bullying:
https://www.toronto.com/news-story/8698599-crossways-tenants-taking-landlord-to-court-stop-bullying/

Kenora child poverty rates “disturbing”, report:
https://www.kenoraonline.com/local/child-poverty-rates-disturbing-report

A “lesson in humility” at U of Ottawa’s Poverty Challenge:
https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/u-of-ottawa-hosts-poverty-challenge-to-build-empathy-seek-solutions/

Rent up 15.1% in St. Catherines, compared to 2017:
https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8680622-rent-up-15-1-in-st-catharines-compared-to-2017/#.WypQsfoT4di.twitter

New stats on homelessness in Peterborough city, county reveal a few surprises:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4289625/new-stats-on-homelessness-in-peterborough-city-county-reveal-a-few-surprises/

Hamilton rent strikers vow to stay put despite eviction threat:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8690160-rent-strikers-vow-to-stay-put-despite-eviction-threat/

 

Across the Country

Current wages far below what Halifax families need to get by: study:
https://www.halifaxtoday.ca/local-news/current-wages-far-below-what-halifax-families-need-to-get-by-study-965316

Saint John’s calculated living wage $7 higher than provincial minimum:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-living-wage-hicks-saulnier-1.4715770

How could P.E.I. solve food insecurity? Islanders weigh in:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-food-insecurity-your-comments-1.4724244

PEI squeaks out B- on women’s equality:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-women-equality-report-card-1.4724190

PEI ties for highest rate of food-insecure children among provinces:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-children-food-insecurity-1.4722007

Single mother up against limited housing, employment and child care options in P.E.I.:
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/news/local/single-mother-up-against-limited-housing-employment-and-child-care-options-in-pei-220917/

Quebec strawberry farm tasting sweet success despite minimum wage hike:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-strawberry-farm-tasting-sweet-success-despite-minimum-wage-hike-1.4718098

Advocates, clients worried about cuts to Sask. rental housing supplement:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/concerns-cuts-sask-rental-housing-supplement-1.4726833

Saskatoon man sues officers who Tasered him after responding to wrong address:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/saskatoon-man-sues-officers-who-tasered-him-after-responding-to-wrong-address-1.4723319

Alberta’s Ministry of Labour asks wage theft suspects to pay up:
https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018/06/21/albertas-ministry-of-labour-asks-wage-theft-suspects-to-pay-up.html

For the first time in years, you’ll need to earn more to live well in Edmonton:
https://www.thestar.com/edmonton/2018/06/25/for-the-first-time-in-years-youll-need-to-earn-more-to-live-well-in-edmonton.html

Non-profit CEO describes ‘deplorable’ conditions inside Vancouver’s notorious Regent Hotel:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/regent-residents-moving-out-1.4718856

Google Street View images capture Metro Vancouver’s homeless crisis:
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/google-street-view-images-capture-metro-vancouvers-homeless-crisis

B.C. tightens payday lending practices, protecting most vulnerable:
http://www.news1130.com/2018/06/25/b-c-tightens-payday-lending-practices-protecting-most-vulnerable/

To lower the cost of hospitalizing BC’s homeless and mentally ill, housing needs to be a priority: study:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4287667/to-lower-the-cost-of-hospitalizing-b-c-s-homeless-and-mentally-ill-housing-them-needs-to-be-a-priority-sfu-study/

BC cook brought to Canada as temporary foreign worker wins $32,000 in back pay:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-cook-brought-to-canada-as-temporary-foreign-worker-wins-32k-in-back-pay-1.4719767

City of Vancouver endorses “affordable” $1,903 rent for one bedroom in Kerrisdale project:
https://www.straight.com/news/1094866/city-vancouver-endorses-affordable-1903-rent-one-bedroom-kerrisdale-project

Prince Rupert, BC, gets 36 modular homes for homeless residents:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/prince-rupert-b-c-gets-36-modular-homes-for-homeless-residents-1.4726745

Sears retirees in B.C. suffer higher pension cuts than those in Ontario:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sears-bc-pension-cuts-1.4718774

Opinion: BC public pensions fuel climate change crisis:
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-b-c-public-pensions-fuel-climate-change-crisis

 

National

Employment Insurance recipient list falls to lowest level since 1997:
http://edmontonjournal.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/employment-insurance-recipient-list-falls-to-lowest-level-since-1997/wcm/ec7b31fd-f0a9-4116-b640-c943bb7b3714

Court ruling a victory for opponents of hate speech:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/22/court-ruling-a-victory-for-opponents-of-hate-speech.html

Report recommends longer deferral period for CPP, QPP:
https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/report-recommends-longer-deferral-period-for-cpp-qpp-116335

Michael Wolfson: It’s time Canada had official poverty line:
http://theprovince.com/opinion/op-ed/michael-wolfson-its-time-canada-had-official-poverty-line

Treatment of former Sears Canada workers gets even worse:
https://nupge.ca/content/treatment-former-sears-canada-workers-gets-even-worse

 

International

The US minimum wage just turned 80. Economists don’t give it enough credit:
http://fortune.com/2018/06/25/minimum-wage-anniversary-american-workers/

  • North Dakota’s minimum wage rate leaves many struggling to pay their bills: https://www.myndnow.com/news/bismarck-news/the-state-minimum-wage-rate-leaves-many-struggling-to-pay-their-bills/1265737113
  • Chicago minimum wage increases to 12 bucks on July 1: http://www.wjol.com/chicago-minimum-wage-increases-to-12-bucks-on-july-1st/
  • San Francisco’s minimum wage increase effective July 1: https://www.thehrdigest.com/san-franciscos-minimum-wage-increase-effective-july-1/
  • Germany to raise minimum wage to 9.35 euros in 2020: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-economy-wages/germany-to-raise-minimum-wage-to-935-euros-in-2020-idUSKBN1JM1AS
  • Geneva set to vote on world’s highest minimum wage: https://lenews.ch/2018/06/26/geneva-set-to-vote-on-worlds-highest-minimum-wage/

Nikki Haley: ‘It is patently ridiculous for the United Nations to examine poverty in America’:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/06/21/nikki-haley-it-is-patently-ridiculous-for-the-united-nations-to-examine-poverty-in-america/

  • UN human rights expert criticizes wealth inequality in US: https://nypost.com/2018/06/23/un-human-rights-expert-criticizes-wealth-inequality-in-us/
  • Reality check: Examining US poverty is not “insulting”, experts say: https://globalnews.ca/news/4291053/un-human-rights-council-us-poverty-nikki-haley/
  • The U.N. says 18.5 million Americans are in ‘extreme poverty.’ Trump’s team says just 250,000 are: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/06/25/trump-team-rebukes-u-n-saying-it-overestimates-extreme-poverty-in-america-by-18-million-people/
  • Donald Trump’s poverty denial: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/donald-trumps-poverty-problem/563960/
  • S. policy traps women in poverty, and the world is watching: http://news.trust.org//item/20180622160401-oqi82/

Trump admin’s “tent cities” cost more than keeping migrant kids with parents:
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/immigration-border-crisis/trump-admin-s-tent-cities-cost-more-keeping-migrant-kids-n884871

  • California crops rot as immigration crackdown creates farmworker shortage: http://fortune.com/2017/08/08/immigration-worker-shortage-rotting-crops/
  • S. policy of separating migrant families is ‘government-mandated child abuse,’ says pediatrician:
    http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/u-s-policy-of-separating-migrant-families-is-government-mandated-child-abuse-says-pediatrician-1.4720651

US Supreme Court rules digital companies do not have to have a physical presence in a jurisdiction to be taxed:
http://www.lowellsun.com/opinion/ci_31965598/online-sales-tax-ruling-brings-fairness-headaches

Trump pulls back Obama era protections for women workers:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-pulls-back-obama-era-protections-women-workers-n741041

US Supreme Court rules non-union workers cannot be forced to pay fees to public sector unions:
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/27/supreme-court-rules-in-janus-labor-union-case.html

Dollar stores are thriving – but are they ripping off poor people?:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/28/dollar-store-ripping-people-off-poverty-inequality

Farm bill passes US house with welfare-to-work reforms:
https://wqad.com/2018/06/22/farm-bill-passes-illinois-house-with-welfare-to-work-reforms/

UN to investigate extreme poverty in the UK – after nearly a decade of austerity:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/un-uk-extreme-poverty-investigation-austerity-conservatives-philip-alston-a8422396.html

Poorer areas of England have more fast-food shops, figures show:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/29/poorer-areas-of-england-have-more-fast-food-shops-figures-show?CMP=share_btn_tw

  • Rising energy prices expected to worsen UK fuel poverty: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/26/rising-energy-prices-expected-to-worsen-uk-fuel-poverty
  • ‘Period poverty’ campaign sees dozens of schools give free tampons to girls: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/period-poverty-campaign-sees-dozens-of-schools-give-free-tampons-to-girls-a3869561.html
  • Why are Londoners relying on food banks and soup kitchens?: https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/londoners-relying-food-banks-soup-kitchens-180622180813207.html

Benefit or burden? The cities trying out universal basic income:
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jun/27/benefit-or-burden-the-cities-trying-out-universal-basic-income

The ‘supply-and-demand model of labor markets is fundamentally broken,’ and that’s why you’re not getting a pay raise anytime soon:
http://www.businessinsider.com/supply-and-demand-model-of-labour-markets-is-fundamentally-broken-2018-6

German kids likely to grow up affected by poverty if mums don’t work, study finds:
https://www.thelocal.de/20180627/child-poverty-in-germany-highly-dependant-on-mothers-job-status-study-finds

Poverty in Italy at worst for 12 years; new government vows action:
https://cyprus-mail.com/2018/06/26/poverty-in-italy-at-worst-for-12-years-new-government-vows-action/

Over one in three at risk of poverty in Greece:
http://www.ekathimerini.com/229994/article/ekathimerini/business/over-one-in-three-at-risk-of-poverty-in-greece

Let’s hear about poverty from the poor for a change:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/25/lets-hear-about-poverty-from-poor-people-northern-soul

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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.