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Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 4 March 2016

March 4, 2016

Top Stories

How low-income people suffer without dental care:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/dental-care-low-income-1.3466557

  • Spending on painkillers instead of public dental services makes no sense: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/health-network-spends-1-7-m-per-year-on-painkillers-for-dental-service-1.3471261

More from Geneva:

  • Mercury blighted community of Grassy Narrows takes its case to the UN: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/27/mercury-blighted-community-of-grassy-narrows-takes-its-case-to-the-un.html
  • Canada defends its record on social and economic rights at the United Nations: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/25/canada-united-nations-social-economic-rights_n_9317168.html
  • CWP: It’s the right time to act on poverty: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/canada-without-poverty/2016/02/right-time-to-act-on-poverty#.VtTaFSmo1KQ.facebook
  • Canada comes up short at UN review of human-rights issues: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/canada-comes-up-short-at-un-review-of-human-rights-issues/article28920625/
  • CWP: UN tells Canadian government that human rights are not optional: http://www.cwp-csp.ca/2016/02/un-tells-trudeau-government-human-rights-are-not-optional/
  • Maytree: International boost for human rights in Canada: http://maytree.com/policy-and-insights/opinion/international-boost-for-human-rights-in-canada.html

Disability advocates protest BC’s bus pass clawback:
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Disability+advocates+protest+pass+clawback/11758135/story.html

Ontario Premier calls for interjurisdictional cooperation on safe drinking water for First Nations:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kathleen-wynne-calls-on-feds-provinces-to-provide-first-nations-with-safe-drinking-water-1.3471824?cmp=abfb

Scotiabank economist: Canada needs $20 billion in stimulus to achieve “escape velocity”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/we-need-20-billion-in-stimulus-to-achieve-escape-velocity/article28854484/?cmpid=rss1

Globe editorial: Guaranteed annual income might solve big problems:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/the-guaranteed-annual-income-a-little-idea-that-might-just-solve-some-very-big-problems/article28746532/

  • Basic Income Canada Network: Ontario to try basic income pilot: http://www.basicincomecanada.org/ontario_to_try_basic_income_guarantee_pilot
  • Province plans Basic Income pilot project as part of Budget: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/26/ontario-basic-income_n_9328264.html
  • Letters to the editor: Guaranteed income has flaws: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2016/02/22/guaranteed-income-has-flaws.html
  • Eggleton: It’s time for Canada to test a Basic Income: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sen-art-eggleton/art-eggleton-basic-income_b_9331180.html
  • Op-Ed: Let’s get the basic income experiment right: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/01/lets-get-the-basic-income-experiment-right.html

Access to legal services: It’s a social justice issue:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nikki-gershbain/canadian-social-justice_b_9290224.html

Study: Closing five tax loopholes that primarily benefit the wealthy would raise $16 billion for federal and provincial governments:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/24/tax-loopholes-canada-toby-sanger_n_9309578.html

 

More on Ontario Budget 2016

Rabble: Free tuition promise could usher long-held dream of privatizing the system: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/nora-loreto/2016/02/ontario-liberal-promise-free-tuition-could-usher-long-held-dream-

Don’t call Ontario’s new grant “free tuition”:
http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/dont-call-ontarios-new-grant-free-tuition

  • Update: Ontario tuition grants are free after all: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/its-official-ontario-tuition-grants-are-free-after-all

Where’s the money for affordable housing:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/affordable-housing-toronto-1.3466198

Co-pay, deductible hikes for drugs will be tough on seniors:
http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/co-pay-deductible-hikes-for-drugs-will-be-tough-on-seniors-advocate-says

  • Wynne taking a second look at seniors’ drug plan changes: http://www.torontosun.com/2016/02/29/wynne-taking-second-look-at-seniors-drug-plan-changes
  • Star editorial: Ontario should back off on seniors’ drug costs: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/03/01/ontario-should-back-off-on-seniors-drug-costs-editorial.html

How Kathleen Wynne is taking from the richer to give to the poorer:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/ontario-budget-2016-kathleen-wynne-middle-class-low-income-1.3469385

Star Editorial: Ontario Budget leaves poorest children behind:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/02/29/ontario-budget-leaves-ontarios-poorest-children-behind-editorial.html

Globe Editorial: Why Ontario’s budget is a success that dare not speak its name:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/why-ontarios-budget-is-a-success-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/article28922048/

Registered Nurses of Ontario response:
http://rnao.ca/news/media-releases/2016/02/25/rnao-applauds-government-delivering-promise-look-np-compensation-says

Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association response:
http://qc.onpha.on.ca/2016/02/onphas-response-to-the-2016-ontario-budget/

Ontario Association of Food Banks: The hidden highlight of the budget:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/ontarios-2016-budget_b_9365652.html

 

Ontario

Court victory for Ontario couple sets new precedent for precarious “independent contractor” workers:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/21/125000-court-win-for-ontario-couple-sets-precedent-for-precarious-workers.html

Wage theft complaint results in firing; one-third of Ministry orders remain unpaid:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/17/victims-left-exposed-in-wage-theft-war.html

Deaths of people who are homeless go uncounted in Ontario:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2016/02/21/homeless-deaths-in-ontario-go-uncounted.html

Nearly half of Ontarians continue to support provincial pension plan:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/nearly-half-of-ontarians-continue-to-support-the-provincial-pension-plan-amid-heated-debate

Ontario integrates services to children and families into new Early Years Child and Family Centres:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/02/improving-access-to-services-for-young-children-and-their-families.html

Ontario launches centre for workforce innovation at Ryerson:
https://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2016/02/modernizing-employment-and-training-services-for-ontario-jobseekers.html

Ontario implementing Indigenous training and education requirements for public service:
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2016/02/ontario-implementing-new-indigenous-training-and-education-requirements.html

Ontario invests $92 million on social housing environmental retrofits:
https://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2016/02/ontario-investing-92-million-to-create-jobs-and-retrofit-social-housing.html

Proposal stalled to create one Ontario agency responsible for mental health and addictions:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/02/23/mental-health-addictions-proposed-for-one-agency

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns, and Other Good Things

Are Canadians ready for retirement? Not even close, says Broadbent Institute:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/16/retirement-finances-preparedness-broadbent-institute_n_9244172.html

  • Here’s the report: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/an_analysis_of_the_economic_circumstances_of_canadian_seniors
  • CBC coverage: Fewer than 20% of middle income earners have more than 5 years of savings: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/retirement-savings-broadbent-institute-1.3450084?__vfz=tc%3DcRCynkOGSOA
  • Governments of Canada and Ontario announce agreement towards improving pensions: https://news.ontario.ca/mof/en/2016/02/governments-of-canada-and-ontario-announce-agreement-to-help-canadians-enjoy-a-more-secure-retiremen.html

March 23: Low-Income Energy Network conference: Meeting the challenges of energy affordability:
http://www.lowincomeenergy.ca/news-events/2016/02/register-now-for-the-2016-lien-annual-conference!/

New book from IRPP: Income Inequality: The Canadian Story:
http://irpp.org/research/income-inequality-the-canadian-story/

  • Goar: IRPP’s realistic plan to narrow the income gap: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/03/02/a-realistic-plan-to-narrow-the-income-gap-goar.html

Video: John Stapleton on how higher food prices are affecting Canadian families:
http://www.bnn.ca/Video/player.aspx?vid=813604

Please circulate: Toronto Transit Fare Equity Survey for those making under $36,000:
http://cityoftoronto.fluidsurveys.com/surveys/tess/transit-fare-equity-survey/

Social Movement Technologies: Tools for online organizing:
http://socialmovementtechnologies.org/upcoming-online-training

 

Around the Province

Gull Bay First Nation sues federal and provincial governments over a reserve land surveying error:
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/384005/Gull_Bay_sues_Canada,_Ontario_over_165-year-old_land_surveying_error

The impact of Hamilton steel mill closures, on people and the economy:
http://www.thestar.com/business/economy/2016/02/20/the-long-shadow-of-hamilton-steel-mills.html

Hamilton ready to lead the way regulating payday loan businesses:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-ready-to-lead-the-way-regulating-payday-loan-business-1.3450629?cmp=rss

Thunder Bay homeless count shows nearly 75% of homeless are Indigenous:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/thunder-bay/homeless-count-thunder-bay-aboriginal-1.3464406

Kenora poverty challenge opens eyes:
http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/02/23/sixth-annual-poverty-challenge-an-eye-opener-for-participants

Hundreds walk in Welland against poverty on the coldest night of the year:
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/community-story/6342119-hundreds-walk-in-welland-against-poverty-with-coldest-night/

Niagara Region: Public transit must be reliable and affordable:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2016/02/10/public-transit-must-be-reliable-affordable

Spending money on poverty reduction better at reducing crime than increasing Toronto police budget:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/toronto/2016/02/17/fighting-poverty-most-effective-at-reducing-crime-prof-says-.html

  • Toronto Poverty Reduction website: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=de8f727e05c79410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

Toronto shelters are bursting at the seams: OCAP report:
http://globalnews.ca/news/2518550/homeless-shelters-in-toronto-bursting-at-the-seams-report/

Social housing emergencies show vulnerable tenants need support:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/sharad-kerur/social-housing-emergencies_b_9300542.html

Volunteers helping Syrian newcomers in Toronto are overwhelmed:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/6314240-volunteers-helping-syrian-newcomers-in-toronto-are-overwhelmed-doctor-says/

Toronto shelter allows people who are homeless maintain their lifeline:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/24/pet-friendly-shelter-helps-homeless-maintain-lifeline.html

Parkdale residents protest poor housing conditions and rent increases:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/24/tenants-push-for-heat-repairs-in-parkdale-apartments.html

Three faces of poverty in Parkdale, Toronto:
https://onmemoryanddesire.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/three-faces-of-poverty-a-brief-personal-history-of-parkdale/

New community centre brings opportunity to Toronto’s Regent Park:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/regent-park-community-centre-nelson-mandela-park-public-school-1.3467193

Toronto bylaw limiting payday lenders gets support from ACORN and councillors:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/28/toronto-bylaw-limiting-payday-lenders-gets-a-push-from-acorn-councillors.html

Months to live, but a longer wait for affordable housing in Toronto:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/02/26/months-to-live-but-a-longer-wait-for-housing-porter.html

 

Across the Country

Overwhelmed Alberta Works staff turn away people seeking social assistance help:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/calgary/ei-alberta-works-applications-income-support-1.3462402

Make Poverty History wants to make poverty an election issue in upcoming Manitoba election:
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/03/01/group-seeks-to-make-poverty-an-election-issue

Eviction deadline looms at Victoria tent camp but enforcement not planned:
http://www.680news.com/2016/02/24/eviction-deadline-looms-at-victoria-tent-camp-but-enforcement-not-planned/

Corner Brook, NFLD school launches soup kitchen:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/corner-brook-school-turns-soup-kitchen-1.3442306

Nunavut’s rich-poor gap continues to grow:
http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavuts_rich-poor_continues_to_grow_stats_reveal/

National

83,000 seniors to get overdue GIS payments, but no interest:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/seniors-gis-overdue-payments-1.3469475

  • Paying interest being considered: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/gis-seniors-shortchanged-interest-1.3471342

The bottom 20% of Canadian households are spending over half their incomes on basic necessities:
www.pressprogress.ca/statistics_canada_bottom_20_of_households_spending_over_half_their_budgets_on_basic_necessities

First Nations in state of shock as they declare public-health emergency:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/02/24/first-nations-in-state-of-shock-as-it-declares-public-health-emergency.html

The federal government has announced it will update and reinstate the Court Challenges Program:
http://voices-voix.ca/en/facts/profile/court-challenges-program

Bombardier slashes 2,830 jobs in Canada (ed. note: Are they still looking for federal funding?):
http://www.flamboroughreview.com/news-story/6311959-canada-to-lose-2-830-jobs-as-bombardier-slashes-workforce/

Goar: Lessons from Canada’s refugee health care saga:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/02/24/lessons-from-canadas-refugee-health-saga-goar.html

Eradicating poverty will require a move from charity to justice:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/glen-pearson/charity-to-justice_b_9322086.html

 

International

A hidden cost when poor children are picky eaters:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/02/16/opinion/why-poor-children-cant-be-picky-eaters.html

Number of Japanese households on welfare hits record high in December:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/02/national/japan-child-rearing-homes-living-poverty-doubled-20-years-1-46-million-researcher/#.Vtm4w-YsB-9

Benefit changes in the UK make it harder for people who are homeless to rent:
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/25/benefit-changes-homeless-rent-property-landlords-crisis

People who are homeless sleeping in dumpsters a growing issue in the UK:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35686743

Officials seizing tiny houses from people who are homeless in South Los Angeles:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-tiny-houses-seized-20160224-story.html

In one month, the US will begin intentionally starving poor people:
http://gawker.com/in-one-month-we-will-begin-intentionally-starving-poor-1761588216

Costco increases wages for lowest-paid workers in the US:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/costco-minimum-wage-increase-wage_us_56d87da5e4b0ffe6f8e86e00

What the US presidential candidates are saying on poverty and opportunity:
http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2016/02/29-presidential-candidates-poverty-opportunity-haskins

It’s time to take Basic Income seriously. The labour market is why:
http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/02/23-time-to-take-basic-income-seriously-reeves

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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.