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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 3 March 2017

March 3, 2017

Top Stories

No Fixed Address: Rental market for Torontonians on disability “absolutely horrible”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/no-fixed-address-disability-1.4002514

  • Lack of funding means Toronto Community Housing could board up a unit a day in 2018:
    http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/01/17/lack-of-funds-means-tch-could-board-up-a-unit-a-day-in-2018.html

Hydro rates to drop 17%, but Ontarians will pay for it later:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-price-plan-kathleen-wynne-1.4006021

  • Hydro rate increases will be held to rate of inflation after 25 percent cut: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/03/02/hydro-rate-increases-will-be-held-to-inflation-after-25-cut.html
  • Hydro relief plan will kick in this summer: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/03/01/premier-kathleen-wynnes-hydro-relief-plan-will-kick-in-this-summer.html
  • Excluded from Ontario’s hydro cuts, firms say they can’t compete: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-wynne-slashes-hydro-rates/article34183180/
  • Vulnerable Ontarians to see significant reductions in their electricity bills: http://www.lowincomeenergy.ca/news-events/2017/03/vulnerable-ontarians-to-see-significant-reductions-in-their-electricity-bills/
  • Seniors group (CARP) welcomes hydro relief, but has concerns: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/03/03/seniors-group-welcomes-hydro-relief-but-has-concerns
  • First Nation leaders say Premier Wynne’s hydro announcement today will strengthen government-to-government relationship: http://www.chiefs-of-ontario.org/node/1513
  • The Ontario 2018 provincial election unofficially started today: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2017/03/02/ontario-2018-provincial-election-unofficially-started-today/

Big changes considered for Ontario workplaces:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-changing-workplaces-review-labour-law-1.3994571

  • Business, labour brace for changes to Ontario’s workplace laws: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-changing-workplaces-review-business-labour-1.4001467

Filing taxes brings major benefits to people on low incomes:
https://maytree.com/stories/filing-taxes-brings-major-benefits-people-low-incomes/

Publicly funding dental care could help ease the fentanyl crisis, and more:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/a-doctor-argues-for-public-dental-care-i-don-t-breastfeed-and-that-s-ok-and-raise-the-gst-1.3996693/publicly-funding-dental-care-could-help-ease-the-fentanyl-crisis-and-more-1.3996751

  • Letter to the editor: Add dental care to OHIP: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2017/02/24/add-dental-care-to-ohip.html

NDP bill would limit new child-care funding to non-profit centres:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/01/ndp-bill-would-limit-new-child-care-funding-to-non-profit-centres.html

Universal public coverage of essential drugs would improve health care, research suggests:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/essential-medicine-health-canada-1.3998964

Blind cabinet minister promises Canada’s first national accessibility legislation will have teeth, could be retroactive:
http://www.hilltimes.com/2017/02/27/qualtrough-promises-national-accessibility-legislation-will-teeth-retroactive/97462

#MMIW Inquiry set to begin hearings in May:
http://aptnnews.ca/2017/02/27/mmiw-inquiry-set-to-begin-hearings-in-may/

 

Ontario

Government announcement and backgrounders on hydro rate reduction plan:

  • Ontario cutting electricity bills by 25 per cent: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/03/ontario-cutting-electricity-bills-by-25-per-cent.html
  • Enhancing electricity support and conversation programs: https://news.ontario.ca/mei/en/2017/03/enhancing-electricity-support-and-conservation-programs.html
  • Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-fair-hydro-plan
  • Premier’s statement: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/03/premiers-statement-on-ontarios-fair-hydro-plan.html

Electricity stories from before the Hydro announcement:

  • Current HST hydro rebate benefits rich more, report suggests: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hydro-hst-cuts-electricity-bills-1.4005751
  • Here’s the CCPA’s report: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/hydro
  • NDP plan to cut hydro prices: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ontariondp/pages/1645/attachments/original/1488201638/FINAL_NDP_Hydro_Announcement_(14).pdf?1488201638
  • Low-income residents in Simcoe County seek relief from shock of hydro bills: http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7151156-low-income-residents-in-simcoe-county-seek-relief-from-shock-of-energy-bills/
  • Ontario Energy Board orders utility companies to reconnect all customers: http://globalnews.ca/news/3269202/ontario-energy-board-orders-utility-companies-to-reconnect-all-customers/
  • No one can make electricity cheap again – and why hydro is so expensive:
    https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/23/no-one-cant-make-electricity-cheap-again.html
  • Time to fix hydro mistake: http://socialistproject.ca/bullet/1372.php
  • Explaining the rapid increase in energy prices: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/28/explaining-the-rapid-increase-in-energy-prices-opinion.html

Criminalization of opioids is costing lives: Cole:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/03/02/criminalization-of-opioids-is-costing-lives-cole.html

How union leaders can change with the times – or not: Cohn:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/02/27/how-union-leaders-can-change-with-the-times-or-not-cohn.html

Ontario gets ‘kickback’ from inmates’ collect calls, lawyer says:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/ontario-government-bell-jail-inmate-collect-call-commissions-1.3997146

Government release: Ontario making progress in plan to end violence against Indigenous women:
https://news.ontario.ca/mirr/en/2017/03/ontario-making-progress-in-plan-to-end-violence-against-indigenous-women.html

Progressive Conservatives tracking toward super majority; Third party status possible for Wynne’s Liberals:
http://poll.forumresearch.com/post/2666/progressive-conservatives-tracking-toward-super-majority

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

$15 and Fairness Update: Changing Workplaces Review – report release timing and upcoming events:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=16a903a477&e=f3bab51a7a

March 3: Canadians for Tax Fairness: Explosive CBC documentary tonight on KPMG tax deals:
http://www.taxfairness.ca/en/news/explosive-documentary-kpmg-tax-deals

  • The Current: How accounting firm KPMG helped wealthy Canadians dodge their taxes: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-2-2017-1.4005007/how-accounting-firm-kpmg-helped-wealthy-canadians-dodge-their-taxes-1.4005033
  • KPMG offshore tax dodge a ‘façade’ designed to hide money, ex-client says: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/kpmg-offshore-tax-dodge-1.4002778

March 7: Public Legal Education Session on Housing in Guelph:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/public-legal-education-session-housing-tickets-31510425531

Upcoming workshops in Toronto: Retiring on a Low Income: Plain Language Advice:
http://openpolicyontario.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Personal-Finance-Low-Income-9-branches-3.pdf

Stats Can: The sharing economy in Canada:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170228/dq170228b-eng.htm

Stats Can: RRSP contributions 2015:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170224/dq170224b-eng.htm

A new economy and a fair transition for workers:
http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/february-2017/a-new-economy-and-a-fair-transition-for-workers/

Maytree: Should the National Housing Strategy include a housing benefit?:
https://maytree.com/publications/national-housing-strategy-include-housing-benefit/

 

Around the Province

Durham first to launch online social housing system:
http://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/101032

Tiny house wave comes to Hamilton with new affordable housing project:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/hamilton/laneway-tiny-units-1.3998639

Column: How you can help Sudbury’s homeless:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/02/25/column-how-you-can-help-sudburys-homeless

Toronto landlords charging potential tenants just to apply for an apartment, Radio-Canada finds:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/landlords-charging-for-application-fee-1.4007281

  • High rent could make Toronto a ‘generational ghost town’: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/high-rent-could-make-toronto-a-generational-ghost-town-1.3999022
  • Toronto councillors call for province to protect tenants from rent increases:
    http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/02/28/toronto-councillors-call-for-province-to-protect-tenants-.html
  • Toronto’s new apartment bylaw could help crack down on bad landlords: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/apartment-bylaw-toronto-bad-landlords-municipal-licensing-committee-1.4004117
  • Five things Toronto renters should know about landlord licensing:
    http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2017/02/27/toronto-landlord-licensing-renters-.html
  • A winter of discontent and homeless deaths:
    http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/2017-02-27t000000/winter-discontent-and-homeless-deaths

City of Toronto establishes Lived Experience Advisory Group to assist with poverty reduction efforts:
http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=af71df79b2df6410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&nrkey=C007A8346E410BAD852580D40053AF30

Star editorial: Toronto must enforce its ‘sanctuary city’ status:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2017/02/21/toronto-must-enforce-its-sanctuary-city-status-editorial.html

 

Across the Country

BC budget gives little to tackle poverty and affordability:
http://theprovince.com/opinion/columnists/trish-garner-b-c-budget-gives-little-to-tackle-poverty-and-affordability

  • A befuddling question: Why are those on social assistance in BC ignored?: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/a-befuddling-question-why-are-those-on-social-assistance-in-bc-ignored/article34136252/
  • “They expect you to live with nothing”: BC welfare rates lag behind inflation: http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2017/02/27/bc-government-welfare-disability-assistance-stagnant-budget.html

BC’s minimum wage to reach $11.35 an hour by September 15:
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2074671/bcs-minimum-wage-reach-us860-hour-september

Homelessness task force calls on province for poverty reduction plan:
http://www.peacearchnews.com/news/414895984.html

  • Nearly 600,000 British Columbians live in poverty and BC still has no poverty reduction plan: http://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/43259/nearly-600000-british-columbians-live-poverty-bc-still-no-poverty-reduction-plan/

Poverty hard on BC students and teachers, educator says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/poverty-hard-on-b-c-students-and-teachers-educator-says-1.4006939

Vancouver mayor blames province for ‘war on the poor’:
http://www.vancourier.com/opinion/vancouver-mayor-blames-province-for-war-on-the-poor-1.10681189

Basic income in BC? Green Party wants it but some welfare advocates don’t:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/basic-income-in-b-c-green-party-wants-it-but-some-welfare-advocates-don-t-1.3999759

PEI minimum wage moving to $11.25 April 1, tracking ahead of CPI:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-minimum-wage-cpi-1.3996209

  • Letter: PEI’s minimum wage increase “another pittance” and inadequate:
    http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/opinion/letter-to-the-editor/2017/3/2/letter–wage-increase-not-adequate.html
  • New minimum wage ‘very expensive’ for small business: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-minimum-wage-business-1.3996267

Success stories abundant, money is not for Housing First in Regina:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/saskatchewan/success-stories-abundant-money-is-not-for-housing-first-in-regina-1.4003797

 

National

Average Canadian worker earned $971 a week at the end of last year:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/average-weekly-earnings-salary-1.3996308

Opinion: Basic income, child benefits best bet to reduce poverty:
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/basic-income-child-benefits-best-bet-to-reduce-poverty-415058774.html

CPP enhancements: Understand what’s not changing:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/retirement/retire-planning/cpp-enhancements-understand-whats-not-changing/article34149364/

Health Canada proposing smoking ban in apartments, raising legal age to 21:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/health-canada-proposing-smoking-ban-in-apartments-raising-legal-age-to-21-1.3301124

Trudeau under fire for saying Grassy Narrows is Ontario’s responsibility:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/trudeau-under-fire-for-saying-grassy-narrows-very-much-ontarios-responsibility/article34195382/

  • Report suggesting mercury still leaking near Grassy Narrows ‘deeply concerning’, chief says: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grassy-narrows-old-mercury-report-1.4001775

New entrant into NDP leadership race promises basic income:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/guy-caron-ndp-leadership-1.4000796

  • Opinion: Guaranteed Basic Income on verge of takeoff in Canada: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/03/02/Guaranteed-Basic-Income-Canada/

Canada’s inflation rate in January rises to 2.1%, fuelled by gas prices:
http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/canada-s-inflation-rate-in-january-rises-to-2-1-fuelled-by-gas-prices-1.3299635

New law won’t stop Canada being used for money laundering and tax evasion, critics say:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/02/28/new-law-wont-stop-canada-being-used-for-money-laundering-tax-evasion-critics-say.html

What Facebook and Google don’t get about Canada’s digital tax proposal:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/what-facebook-and-google-dont-get-about-canadas-digital-tax-proposal/article34166694/

Economic optimism riding high, but Bank of Canada biding time on rates:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economic-insight/optimism-over-gdp-results-unlikely-to-move-bank-of-canada-on-interest-rates/article34138768/

 

International

Unconditional Basic Income is a dead end:
https://www.socialeurope.eu/2017/03/unconditional-basic-income-is-a-dead-end/

Plight of Asian-American day labourers living in poverty in Flushing, Queens:
http://abc7ny.com/society/plight-of-asian-american-day-laborers-living-in-poverty-in-queens/1777720/

US president says welfare reform is coming:
http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/trump-says-welfare-reform-is-coming/497211570

Calais mayor bans distribution of food to migrants:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/02/calais-mayor-bans-distribution-of-food-to-migrants

German poverty hits record high despite low unemployment:
https://www.thelocal.de/20170303/german-poverty-hits-record-high-despite-low-unemployment

Child poverty rate to hit 30% in Britain after Brexit:
http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/02/news/economy/child-poverty-brexit-uk/

Welfare funds must serve “really disabled” people, says UK MP:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/26/welfare-funds-must-serve-really-disabled

Theresa May’s welfare cuts will drive another million children into poverty:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-ifs-idUKKBN169007

Campaign launched to alert low-paid UK workers of their national minimum wage rights:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/campaign-launched-alert-low-paid-9925868

 

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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.