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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 September 2015

September 4, 2015

Top Stories

National Vote to End Poverty campaign launched September 1:

  • Campaign website here: http://votetoendpoverty.ca/
  • CBC Hamilton: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/campaign-aims-to-get-voters-interested-in-poverty-issues-1.3210144
  • Hamilton Spectator: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5823825-taking-aim-at-poverty-through-federal-election/
  • CTV Windsor: http://windsor.ctvnews.ca/vote-to-end-poverty-campaign-kicks-off-at-downtown-mission-1.2542794
  • CBC North: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/vote-to-end-poverty-rally-wants-homelessness-in-federal-election-spotlight-1.3211600
  • CHCH: http://www.chch.com/vote-to-end-poverty/
  • Our Windsor: http://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/5823723-non-partisan-poverty-reduction-campaign-launches-in-windsor/
  • Windsorite.ca: http://windsorite.ca/2015/09/vote-to-end-poverty-campaign-launched/ 

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives releases four-part platform to end inequality in Canada:
http://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/2015/09/02/national-think-tank-unveils-platform-to-end-inequality-in-canada.html

On the one-year anniversary of Ontario’s second Poverty Reduction Strategy, CCPA-Ontario looks at Ontario’s commitment, current Ontario poverty numbers, and the need for a strong federal partner:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/09/03/ontarios-poverty-reduction-strategy-still-missing-a-federal-partner/

People with lived experience of poverty must be included when asking for advice on poverty issues:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/09/01/poverty-poor-need-their-voices-heard

  • St Catherines columnist agrees: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2015/09/02/lafleche-poverty-voice-needed-on-mayors-committee 

Op-Ed: Could the Guaranteed Annual Income be an idea whose time has come?
http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1307948-guaranteed-annual-income-would-reduce-poverty-health-costs

Letter to the Editor: Why not a $25 minimum wage?
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2015/08/30/why-not-a-25-minimum-wage.html

Letter to the Editor: Food prices up 3.5%, but social assistance rates only up 1%:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2015/08/30/mpps-should-give-poverty-a-try.html

Severe poverty impacts children’s brain development, says study:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/08/30/severe-poverty-affects-childrens-brain-development-study-finds.html

Reports, Events, and Other Good Stuff

IRPP report says Canada’s sickness benefits need an overhaul:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/sickness-benefits-need-an-overhaul-for-aging-workforce-study-1.3213220

  • Here’s the report: “Leaving some behind: What happens when workers get sick”: http://irpp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/report-2015-09-03.pdf 

More from CWP on their new handbook on applying human rights approaches to poverty reduction:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/views-expressed/2015/09/rights-matter-practical-guide-to-ending-poverty-canada

Ontario

Local Poverty Reduction Fund provides Six Nations and City of Brantford nearly $600K for aboriginal students and children affected by poverty:
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2015/09/02/grants-for-poverty-reduction-projects

  • Ontario press release: http://news.ontario.ca/tbs/en/2015/09/local-poverty-reduction-fund-to-invest-in-educational-programs-in-brantford-and-ohsweken.html 

Ontario announces new youth employment program:
http://news.ontario.ca/tcu/en/2015/09/ontario-launches-new-youth-employment-program.html

Around the Province

Meeting on Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy coming up September 16 in North York:
http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5827111-north-york-harvest-food-bank-hosts-meeting-on-city-s-poverty-reduction-plans/

Leaky roof just the beginning at Toronto Community Housing building:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/08/30/leaky-roofs-just-the-beginning-of-troubles-at-tchc-building.html

Ottawa transportation coalition pushing for low-income transit pass in next municipal budget:
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-story/5821575-transportation-coalition-pushes-for-low-income-transit-pass/

One woman’s struggle with poverty in St. Catherines:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/05/lisa-britton-turns-anger-into-poverty-advocacy

Op-Ed: Now that Toronto has a Poverty Reduction Strategy, will Council fund it?
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/01/will-john-tory-be-torontos-anti-poverty-mayor.html

Shelter in Niagara region keeps families together:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2015/08/19/ywcas-emergency-shelter-keeps-families-together

Oshawa organization celebrates 30 years of helping people find work:
http://oshawaexpress.ca/viewposting.php?view=8411

Across the Country

Identification Clinic helps Nova Scotians who are homeless get the ID they need for benefits and more:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/the-identification-clinic-helps-homeless-break-down-barriers-1.3209893

Saskatchewan NDP calls for guaranteed annual income pilot project:
http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=16844

National

Business investment AWOL while Canadian households keep economy afloat through credit:
http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/what-the-gdp-numbers-say-about-canadas-great-economic-divide/

Rise in campus food banks demonstrates the inaccessibility of education:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/08/25/campus-food-banks-trend-troubling-students-say.html

National Post survey reveals a $15 minimum wage would bring “a nightmare scenario”:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/After+minimum+wage+would+bring+nightmare+scenario+Canada+critics/11325174/story.html

Reforms that mean the refugee determination system moves faster also means less access to justice for claimants:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Faster+timelines+mean+less+access+justice+refugees/11325348/story.html

  • Project slams changes to immigration and refugee policy: http://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2015/09/02/migrants-slam-impact-of-immigration-overhaul.html 

New Live-In-Caregiver program rules creating barriers to employment:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/new-rules-meant-to-protect-caregivers-pose-barrier-to-employment/article26160332/

Federal Election

Despite the need, Aboriginal issues are not getting enough attention in the campaign:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/09/01/despite-need-aboriginal-issues-not-getting-much-attention-in-election-campaign.html

Maytree blog: Getting poverty on the election agenda:
http://maytree.com/blog/2015/08/getting-poverty-on-the-election-agenda/
Information on how to vote, given the Fair Elections Act changes, from Hamilton Roundtable:
http://hamiltonpoverty.ca/neighbourhood-development/

Nunavut’s food crisis becoming an election issue:
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/episode-248-an-ex-marine-remembers-katrina-censoring-china-s-market-crash-nunavut-s-food-crisis-more-1.3204850/nunavut-s-food-crisis-is-becoming-an-election-issue-1.3204965

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Policy Tracker, includes transit, infrastructure, and housing:
http://www.citiescan.ca/policy_tracker

International

UN to investigate UK welfare reforms for “grave or systemic” violations of rights of people with disabilities:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13635161.UN_launches_investigation_into__grave__violations_of_disabled_people_s_human_rights_over_welfare_reforms/?ref=fbshr

  • Young UK man who can’t talk, read or write must complete 20 page form to keep disability benefits: https://jsuknewsofficial.wordpress.com/2015/08/31/he-cannot-talk-read-or-write-but-tories-want-severely-disabled-stuart-chester-to-fill-in-20-page-form-to-keep-benefits/
  • UK welfare reforms not helping increase employment says new study: http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/5214/uk-welfare-reforms-failing-to-boost-employment/
  • 100,000 Northern Ireland children living in poverty: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/101000-children-living-in-poverty-as-income-of-northern-ireland-families-falls-31501336.html
  • Scotland to spend £100M to mitigate the harm caused by UK welfare cuts: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/scotland-to-spend-100m-in-the-next-year-to-mitigate-harm-caused-by-tory-welfare-cuts-10481891.html 

Study: US single moms more likely to face poverty than single dads, and have harder time getting out:
http://phys.org/news/2015-08-mothers-poverty-fathers.html

  • Washington DC is “dramatically” increasing services for families without homes: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-dramatically-expands-services-for-homeless-families/2015/08/31/0e69223e-4f83-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html 

Sweden to increase social spending under deal between minority government and opposition:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/29/sweden-budget-idUSL5N11409M20150829

Summit to explore better welfare and child policies in New Zealand:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1509/S00017/cpag-summit-welfare-fit-for-families-in-a-changing-world.htm

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1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
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.