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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

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Media & Policy News: 4 November 2016

November 4, 2016

Top Stories

Injured worker “broken down” by 10-year battle with WSIB:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/wsib-appeal-tribunal-wait-1.3833770

Canada chided for treatment of black people by UN group:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2016/11/02/canada-chided-for-treatment-of-black-people-by-un-group.html

Star editorial: Morneau is half right – but the feds and provinces can curb precarious labour itself:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/28/bill-morneau-is-half-right-about-precarious-labour-editorial.html

  • An era of precarious employment calls for a new social architecture: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/an-era-of-precarious-employment-calls-for-a-new-social-architecture/article32548765/
  • Precarious work creates a cycle of fear and instability: huffingtonpost.ca/ontario-association-of-food-banks/precarious-work-cycle_b_12757650.html

Ontario needs a new common-sense approach to social assistance:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/community-food-centres-canada/ontario-social-assistance_b_12734176.html

  • Sudbury and District Board of Health calls on government to increase social assistance rates: http://www.manitoulin.ca/2016/10/28/board-health-calls-increase-social-assistance/

Ontario government consulting on basic income pilot project:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-government-consulting-on-basic-income-pilot-project/article32671739/

  • Ontario government considering minimum income pilot project: http://www.citynews.ca/2016/11/03/ontario-government-considering-minimum-income-pilot-project/
  • Proposed basic income pilot would provide monthly payments of at least $1,320: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/11/03/proposed-basic-income-pilot-would-provide-monthly-payments-of-least-1320.html

Basic Income Pilot report and discussion paper:

  • Government announcement: Ontario seeking input on basic income pilot: https://news.ontario.ca/mcss/en/2016/11/ontario-seeking-input-on-basic-income-pilot.html
  • Hugh Segal’s report and summary: https://www.ontario.ca/page/finding-better-way-basic-income-pilot-project-ontario
  • Government’s consultation guide with basic info about basic income: https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-guide-basic-income-pilot-project
  • How to participate – surveys, emails and in-person regional meetings – consultation ends January 31: https://www.ontario.ca/page/basic-income-pilot-consultation#section-3

Resources on Basic Income:

  • ISAC / Your Legal Rights Webinar – What is basic income and what could it mean for social assistance?: http://yourlegalrights.on.ca/webinar/basic-income-what-it-and-what-could-it-mean-social-assistance
  • Basic Income: The Devil’s in the Details: http://incomesecurity.org/publications/other/ISAC-Laidley-Basic-Income-The-Devils-in-the-Details-Oct-2016.pdf
  • En français ici: http://incomesecurity.org/publications/other/ISAC-Laidley-Basic-Income-The-Devils-in-the-Details-Oct-2016-FR.pdf
  • CCPA Ontario: Basic Income: Rethinking Social Policy: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/basic-income
  • CCPA: A Policymaker’s Guide to Basic Income: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/basic-income
  • Maytree Foundation: Would a universal basic income reduce poverty?: http://maytree.com/policy-and-insights/publications/policy-brief-basic-income.html?doing_wp_cron=1476478493.0893380641937255859375
  • Mowat Centre: Pilot Lessons: How to design a basic income pilot for Ontario: https://mowatcentre.ca/pilot-lessons/
  • Caledon Institute: “Basic Income” or “Bait and Switch”?: http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/Detail/?ID=1106

Other coverage of basic income:

  • Basic income or basement income?: http://peoplesvoice.ca/2016/11/03/ontario-basic-income-or-basement-income/
  • Basic income touted as a solution to poverty: http://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/2016/11/03/basic-income-touted-as-solution-to-poverty
  • If we’re not for basic income, what are we for?:
    http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/6919686-time-to-put-basic-income-guarantee-to-work-in-ontario/
  • Ontario pilot project puts universal basic income to the test: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/28/universal-basic-income-ontario-poverty-pilot-project-canada
  • Fraser Institute: Be cautious about Ontario’s “basic income” plan: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/be-cautious-about-ontario-s-basic-income-plan

Ontario Financial Accountability Office fall economic and fiscal outlook predicts deficit budget in 2017-2018 without additional government measures:
http://www.fao-on.org/en/Blog/media/FAO_expects_ontario_budget

  • Full statement: http://www.fao-on.org/en/Blog/Publications/Statement_Fall_2016_EFO

Federal fall economic update: Feds plan to spend billions more on infrastructure, create infrastructure bank to attract private investment:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeau-liberals-bet-on-infrastructure-spend-with-new-bank-as-economy-weakens/article32622531/

  • CCPA: Federal Infrastructure Bank loans will come at a higher cost:
    http://behindthenumbers.ca/2016/11/02/federal-infrastructure-bank-loans-will-come-higher-cost/
  • Broadbent Institute: Privatization of public infrastructure a major step in wrong direction: http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/privatization_of_public_infrastructure
  • Walkom: Ottawa’s bold new plan for economic growth is eerily familiar: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/24/ottawas-bold-new-plan-for-economic-growth-is-eerily-familiar-walkom.html
  • Sanger: Banking on privatization? http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2016/10/31/banking-on-privatization/
  • Morneau counts on foreign investors to buy into infrastructure strategy: http://www.bnn.ca/finance-minister-morneau-adds-31-8b-to-deficits-over-five-years-1.597697
  • Construction firms, pension managers welcome increased infrastructure spending:
    https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/11/02/construction-firms-pension-managers-welcome-increased-infrastructure-spending.html
  • Feds ask investment bank to study benefits of privatizing airports: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/liberals-asks-credit-suisse-to-study-benefits-of-privatizing-airports/article32450487/
  • Fall economic update boosts infrastructure plans but offers no path back to balance: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fall-economic-update-bill-morneau-1.3831080
  • Ottawa hopes long-term benefits will soothe short-term pain of large deficits: http://globalnews.ca/news/3036594/ottawa-hopes-long-term-benefits-will-soothe-short-term-pain-of-large-deficits/

Canadians must lose irrational fear of increased deficits, economist says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/canadians-must-lose-fear-of-increased-deficits-1.3823536

Is Canada on the cusp of change for 4.9 million people living in poverty?
http://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2016/10/17/is-canada-on-the-cusp-of-change-for-4-9-million-people-living-in-poverty/#.WBjw2MlWKT8

 

Ontario

Ombudsman’s report: Top complaints on Family Responsibility Office, ODSP, Hydro One, and WSIB:
https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/Newsroom/Press-Release/2016/Ombudsman-reports-on-first-year-of-expanded-mandat.aspx

  • Here’s the report: https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/Resources/Reports/2015-2016-ANNUAL-REPORT.aspx

“Katelynn’s Principle” bill to propose kids in child welfare have say in decisions:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2016/11/02/katelynns-principle-bill-to-propose-kids-in-child-welfare-have-say-in-decisions.html

Government release: Ontario extends funding into 2019/20 for municipal CHPI homelessness services:
https://news.ontario.ca/mho/en/2016/11/province-combating-homelessness-in-ontario-communities.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

Break the Barriers: Citizens for Public Justice annual report on poverty in Canada:
https://www.cpj.ca/break-barriers

Federal poverty reduction consultations coming soon: Consultation page is here:
http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/consultations/poverty_reduction.page

StatsCan Labour Force Survey, October 2016:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/161104/dq161104a-eng.htm

Reminder: National Housing Day of Action November 18:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/national-housing-day-of-action-registration-28432609701

Wellesley Institute submission on the National Affordable Housing Strategy:
http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/national-affordable-housing-strategy-submission/

Still Renovating: A history of Canadian social housing policy:
http://www.mqup.ca/still-renovating-products-9780773548152.php?page_id=46&

Mental Health Commission of Canada: The Case for Diversity: Building the case to improve mental health services for immigrant, refugee, ethno-cultural and racialized populations:
http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/sites/default/files/2016-10/case_for_diversity_oct_2016_eng.pdf

Childcare Resource and Research Unit: Issue File on proposed changes to maternity and parental leave:
http://www.childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/16/10/proposed-changes-canadian-maternity-and-parental-leave

How grassroots projects can help solve community social issues:
http://torontoist.com/2016/11/how-grassroots-projects-can-help-solve-community-social-issues/

Toronto conference: Advancing food insecurity research in Canada – Nov 17/18:
http://proof.utoronto.ca/conference/

 

Around the Province

People who are homeless speak out about harsh treatment by Toronto police:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/03/homeless-speak-out-about-harsh-treatment-by-police.html

Windsor has the most living wage employers:
http://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2016/11/02/windsor-living-wage-employers/

Poverty Roundtable Hastings Prince Edward hopes forum will shift conversation:
http://www.insidebelleville.com/news-story/6938994-poverty-roundtable-hopes-forum-will-shift-conversation/

Northumberland legal clinic Social Justice Award announced:
http://www.northumberlandnews.com/news-story/6942830-new-social-justice-award-created-for-northumberland/

London advocates hammer consultant’s report that calls street culture “a blight”:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/10/28/downtown-london-advocates-hammer-540000-consultants-report-that-calls-street-culture-a-blight

Poverty in London: If this is a true story, the system is broken:
http://www.lfpress.com/2016/11/03/poverty-in-london-if-this-is-a-true-story-the-system-is-broken

Timmins to meet 2016 budget; spending lower on social assistance, social housing and public health:
http://www.timminspress.com/2016/11/02/council-still-in-line-to-meet-2016-budget

United Way’s Lived Experiences Advisory Group helps tackle poverty in Toronto:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/31/authentic-voices-are-front-and-centre-as-united-way-helps-tackle-torontos-poverty.html

Toronto’s Mayor says city could sell assets to pay for new transit projects:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/john-tory-transit-projects-funding-deal-property-tax-hike-1.3832373

ACORN tenant survey bolsters call for landlord licensing in Toronto:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/01/state-of-disrepair-tenant-survey-bolsters-call-for-landlord-licensing.html

  • Here’s the survey report: https://www.acorncanada.org/resource/toronto-acorn-state-repair

When hidden poverty penetrates Toronto’s suburbs:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/10/31/when-hidden-poverty-penetrates-torontos-suburbs.html

A year after Toronto launches strategy to reduce poverty, what’s been done?:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/toronto-poverty-reduction-strategy-housing-1.3833568

 

Across the Country

Program offers 1 year of free university to Nova Scotians on social assistance:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/welfare-assistance-university-community-college-books-tuition-aid-community-services-1.3825959

New report shines light on BC’s high child poverty rate:
http://www.cknw.com/2016/11/03/new-report-shines-light-on-b-c-s-high-child-poverty-rate/

The case for a progressive property tax in BC:
http://www.policynote.ca/the-case-for-a-progressive-property-tax/

What it’s like saving lives on the front lines of Vancouver’s opioid crisis:
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/what-its-like-saving-lives-on-the-front-lines-of-vancouvers-opiate-crisis

Vancouver legal clinic for low-income women helps 175 clients in first five months:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2016/11/02/rise-women-legal-clinic-served-175-clients-in-first-5-months.html

 

National

Ministry of Finance confirms Canada Child Benefit will not be indexed until 2020:
http://www.fin.gc.ca/n16/16-140-eng.asp

Why a new national strategy on food can’t satisfy all:
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/why-a-new-national-strategy-on-food-cant-satisfyall/article32486906/

Rights group urges Canada to protect migrant workers:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/148511/148511

Sponsored refugees fare better than government-assisted peers, study shows:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2016/10/31/sponsored-refugees-fare-better-government-assisted-peers.html

Government announces new CPP-D service standards:
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1145459

Canada raises pensionable earnings limits for 2017:
http://www.bna.com/canada-raises-pensionable-n57982082108/

Chief actuary confirms Canada Pension Plan is solid, and sustainable over the long term:
http://www.fin.gc.ca/n16/16-142-eng.asp

Ottawa father claims CRA child benefit policies are “sexist”:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/ottawa-father-claims-cra-child-benefit-policies-are-sexist-1.3139426

Government rapped as $900 million unspent by Indigenous Affairs, among lapsed funding for 2016:
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/liberals-left-900-million-unspent-last-year-at-indigenous-affairs

Nearly 40% of Canadian post-secondary students experience food insecurity:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/11/02/nearly-40-per-cent-of-canadian-post-secondary-students-experience-food-insecurity-study.html

Federal government announces changes to student debt repayment plan:
https://theeyeopener.com/2016/10/federal-government-announces-new-student-debt-repayment-plan/

TrudeauMetre: New website tracks Liberal promises:
https://www.trudeaumetre.ca/

 

International

McDonald’s settlement could open door for worker wins across the US:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/10/31/mcdonalds-settlement-could-open-door-worker-wins-nationwide

Voters could push the minimum wage to $12 or higher in four US states:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/11/02/voters-could-push-the-minimum-wage-to-12-or-higher-in-four-states/

Guaranteed income would help alleviate poverty in Buffalo:
http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/02/another-voice-guaranteed-income-help-alleviate-poverty/

How social welfare benefits help the US economy:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-social-welfare-benefits-help-the-economy/

No one kicked off welfare for drug tests in Mississippi has gotten treatment:
https://thinkprogress.org/mississippi-welfare-drug-treatment-2ff4a3b90fcf#.2eqmn05or

Glasgow worst hit by UK welfare cuts:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14837221.Glasgow_worst_hit_by_welfare_cuts_with_claimants_losing___400_a_year/

UK Tory MP calls for minimum wage for “gig economy” self-employed:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/01/ed-vaizey-minimum-wage-gig-economy-self-employed

The link between food banks and welfare cuts in the UK:
https://www.ft.com/content/79093f76-9c2a-11e6-a6e4-8b8e77dd083a

New UK welfare boss wants to stop people with mental health conditions from “sitting at home living on benefits”:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-welfare-chief-wants-stop-9161642

Telecommunications poverty in Australia is a real issue:
https://au.news.yahoo.com/sa/a/33093735/telecommunication-poverty-a-real-issue/#page1

Most Australians say inequality worsening and want major rise in minimum wage:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/02/most-australians-say-inequality-worsening-and-want-major-rise-in-minimum-wage

Cashless welfare in Australia set for expansion:
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/cashless-welfare-set-for-expansion-20161030-gsdx7y

Australian government’s scare tactic about the welfare system “treats us like idiots”:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/30/governments-scare-tactic-about-the-welfare-system-treats-us-like-idiots

Japanese single mothers have poverty rate higher than in many other developed nations:
http://money.cnn.com/2016/11/03/news/economy/japan-women-poverty/

Can poverty cause mental illness?:
http://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-can-poverty-lead-to-mental-illness/

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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.