• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Income Security Advocacy Centre

Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

  • Our Work
    • Litigation
    • Policy
    • Community Organizing
    • Public Education
  • Campaigns
  • Publications
  • About Us
    • Mission, Vision & Mandate
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Board Members
    • Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Updates
  • Resources
  • Twitter
  • en English
    zh-CN 简体中文en Englishfr Françaisit Italianopt Portuguêses Español

Media & Policy News: 6 February 2017

February 6, 2017

Top Stories

Greater enforcement of hate speech laws needed in Canada:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2017/02/01/greater-enforcement-of-hate-speech-laws-needed-in-canada.html

  • How to be an ally: Islamophobia at the intersections: A tipsheet: http://torontoforeveryone.com/blog/2017/1/30/combat-islamophobia-a-tipsheet
  • How to help: Check in, speak out, donate: https://www.thestar.com/life/2017/01/31/how-to-help-in-wake-of-quebec-mosque-attack-check-in-speak-out-donate.html
  • Canada cannot shy away from its history of Islamophobia and prejudice: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/canada-cannot-shy-away-from-its-history-of-islamophobia-and-prejudice
  • Coalition of agencies launches campaign to challenge Islamophobia and racism:
    http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/coalition-agencies-launches-ad-campaign-challenge-islamophobia-and-racism
  • Advocates urge protection for refugees who enter Canada via the US: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/refugee-ban-canada-safe-third-country-1.3956932
  • Advocacy guide for mobilizing against Trump’s immigration policy in Canada: http://www.leaf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Advocacy-Guide-for-Mobilizing-Against-Trump%E2%80%99s-Immigration-Policy-in-Canada1.pdf

Asian job seekers face disadvantage even when they have higher degrees, study finds:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/01/25/better-education-doesnt-help-asian-job-candidates-beat-out-anglos-study.html

Report: Exclusions from minimum employment standards cost workers millions in lost wages:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/29/legal-loopholes-cost-workers-millions-in-lost-wages-report.html

WSIB lifts lid on secret drug list for injured workers:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/01/23/wsib-lifts-lid-on-secret-drug-list-for-injured-workers.html

Table scraps for the poor won’t end poverty:
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/table-scraps-for-the-poor-wont-end-poverty/article33784638/

  • Londoners on welfare and disability assistance are having to choose between basic necessities: http://www.lfpress.com/2017/02/05/londoners-on-welfare-and-disability-assistance-are-having-to-choose-between-basic-necessities
  • So much suffering in Thunder Bay: Raise the rates immediately: http://www.netnewsledger.com/2017/01/20/much-suffering-raise-rates-immediately/

Report highlights busy signals, long waits for EI service; hints at new spending:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1437813-report-highlights-busy-signals-long-waits-for-ei-service-hints-at-new-spending

  • Employment Insurance Service Quality Review Report: Making Citizens Central: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/ei/ei-list/reports/service-quality-review-report.html

Why Kathleen Wynne might tackle hydro delivery charges to cut electricity bills:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hydro-delivery-charge-1.3948106

  • Rural Ontario hydro users hoping for deliverance from high bills: https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2017/02/05/rural-ontario-hydro-users-hoping-for-deliverance-from-high-bills.html
  • Ontario Energy Board press release: New rules to protect households and small businesses in their dealings with energy retails came into effect January 1, 2017: http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/oeb/_Documents/Press%20Releases/newsrelease_ECPA_20170131.pdf
  • Government release: Expanding natural gas to more communities across Ontario: https://news.ontario.ca/moi/en/2017/01/expanding-natural-gas-to-more-communities-across-ontario.html
  • Number of energy bill relief applications processed by Perth and Smiths Falls Salvation Army “crazy”: http://www.insideottawavalley.com/news-story/7099550-number-of-energy-bill-relief-applications-processed-by-the-salvation-army-crazy-/

Stats show glaring gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment rates in the NWT:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/indigenous-employment-statistics-canada-nwt-1.3942204

  • TVO: The high cost of food on First Nations reserves: http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/shared-values/-the-high-cost-of-food-on-first-nations-reserves

Can a national housing benefit help families facing homelessness?
http://homelesshub.ca/blog/can-national-housing-benefit-help-families-facing-homelessness

  • Highlights of the 2016 Coordinated Point-in-Time Count of Homelessness in Canadian Communities: http://homelesshub.ca/resource/homelessness-partnering-strategy-highlights-%E2%80%93-2016-coordinated-point-time-count
  • Cathy Crowe: What’s a homeless life worth?: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/cathycrowe/2017/01/whats-homeless-life-worth
  • Periods are an extra hardship for women who are homeless:
    https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/01/23/periods-an-extra-hardship-for-homeless-women.html

Minister visits Sault to discuss basic income; Activists say “tax the rich, give to the poor”:
https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/minister-visits-sault-to-discuss-anti-poverty-measures-activist-says-tax-the-rich-give-to-the-poor-514472

  • ISAC’s submission to the government’s basic income consultations: http://incomesecurity.org/publications/other/ISAC-submission-on-Basic-Income-Jan-31-2017.pdf
  • North Bay wants in on basic income: http://www.nugget.ca/2017/01/19/province-proposes-3-test-sites-including-one-in-the-north
  • Thunder Bay consultation: Basic income idea supported: http://m.chroniclejournal.com/news/basic-income-idea-supported-guaranteed-pay-could-be-around-per/article_4094bcde-df27-11e6-93b5-8ba83007319e.html?mode=jqm
  • Basic Income Open House comes to Thunder Bay: http://www.magic999.ca/news/1539283144/basic-income-open-house-comes-tbay
  • Basic income idea supported in Thunder Bay: Guaranteed pay could be around $1320 per month: http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/basic-income-idea-supported-guaranteed-pay-could-be-around-per/article_4094bcde-df27-11e6-93b5-8ba83007319e.html
  • Basic income guarantee advocates in Thunder Bay demand action: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/basic-income-guarantee-advocates-demand-action-515465
  • Peterborough wants in: http://www.mykawartha.com/community-story/7080838-peterborough-wants-in-local-basic-income-group-hosts-community-discussion/
  • Ottawans give feedback on Ontario’s guaranteed income pilot project: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/ottawa/guaranteed-incomes-ottawa-meeting-feedback-1.3950544
  • Thomas eager to join basic income pilot project: http://www.stthomastimesjournal.com/2017/01/30/st-thomas-wants-in-on-basic-income-pilot
  • Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force responds to the proposed basic income pilot: http://www.themeafordindependent.ca/news/community-news/268201-bruce-grey-poverty-task-force-respond-to-the-government-s-proposed-basic-income-pilot
  • Summaries of discussions at basic income consultation meetings: https://www.ontario.ca/page/basic-income-pilot-person-discussion-summaries
  • Report: A basic income for Canadians: What would change?: http://metcalffoundation.com/stories/publications/a-basic-income-for-canadians/

Torstar is at a crossroads:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/torstar-toronto-star-fairfax-honderich/article33688741/

 

Ontario

Ontario releases Inspection Blitz Report: Workers Action Centre responds:
http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=dadc085e68&e=51059eb750

Migrant worker wins $20,000 in human rights case:
https://www.thestar.com/news/immigration/2017/01/13/ontario-migrant-worker-wins-20000-in-human-rights-case.html

Securing fair employment and income: Where Living Wage and the Fight for $15 and Fairness intersect:
http://maytree.com/stories/securing-fair-employment-income-living-wage-fight-15-fairness-intersect/

Ontario Uber drivers launch class action in bid to be considered employees:
http://www.benefitscanada.com/news/ontario-uber-drivers-launch-class-action-in-bid-to-be-considered-employees-93189

Premier Wynne and other Ontario politicians bombarded on social media by homophobic, sexist abuse:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kathleen-wynne-twitter-abuse-1.3949657

Budget Talks – cast your vote for up to three ideas for $3 million in 2017-18 budget by February 23:
https://talks.ontario.ca/

Government releases:

  • Helping more children and youth access mental health services: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2017/01/helping-more-children-and-youth-access-mental-health-services.html
  • Helping local children’s centres stay safe and accessible: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2017/01/helping-local-childrens-centres-stay-safe-and-accessible.html
  • Ontario providing more transit funding for cities and towns across province: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/01/ontario-providing-more-transit-funding-for-cities-and-towns-across-province.html
  • Ontario helping keep workers safe on the job: https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2017/01/ontario-helping-keep-workers-safe-on-the-job.html
  • Bringing high-speed internet access to rural residents in King Township and Huron County:
    https://news.ontario.ca/moi/en/2017/01/bringing-high-speed-internet-access-to-rural-residents-in-king-township-and-huron-county.html
  • Boosting economic growth in rural Ontario: https://news.ontario.ca/omafra/en/2017/01/boosting-economic-growth-in-rural-ontario.html

 

Reports, Events, Campaigns and Other Good Things

How to legally organize a demonstration in Toronto:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/reasonable-doubt-how-to-organize-a-demonstration/

Know your rights guide to protesting: Canadian Civil Liberties Association:
https://ccla.org/know-rights-guide-protesting/

Fight for $15 and Fairness: 2017 has kicked into high gear:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=8e3951a35d48e64f736884ea9&id=0d48a18d17&e=f3bab51a7a

  • A mythbusters guide to the $15 minimum wage: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/02/01/Minimum-Wage-15-Mythbusters-Guide/

Caledon Institute closing; work moving to Maytree Foundation:
http://maytree.com/media-releases/announcing-next-chapter-caledon-maytree-partnership/

  • Three lessons from 25 years with the Caledon Institute: http://maytree.com/publications/three-lessons-25-years-caledon-institute/
  • Caledon Commentary: Poverty Reduction and Disability Income: http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/1110ENG%2Epdf

Toronto: Upcoming community forum: Strategizing to prevent seniors evictions:
http://www.equalityrights.org/cera/?p=2267

Maytree special series: Poverty and human rights in Canada:
http://maytree.com/what-we-focus-on/poverty-human-rights/special-series-poverty-human-rights-canada/

Report: Aboriginal Homelessness in Flin Flon, Manitoba:
http://homelesshub.ca/resource/aboriginal-homelessness-flin-flon-manitoba-2016

Stats Can releases and reports

  • 2016 Census: Population and dwelling counts to be released next week: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170201/dq170201b-eng.htm
  • Consumer Price Index: Annual review, 2016:
    http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170120/dq170120c-eng.htm
  • A look at immigration, ethnocultural diversity and languages in Canada up to 2036: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170125/dq170125b-eng.htm
  • Job vacancies, third quarter 2016: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170125/dq170125a-eng.htm
  • Payroll employment, earnings and hours, November 2016: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170126/dq170126a-eng.htm
  • Survey of Household Spending, 2015: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170127/dq170127a-eng.htm
  • Food insecurity among Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat, 2012: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170201/dq170201a-eng.htm
  • Labour force survey: 2016 revisions: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170203/dq170203d-eng.htm

 

Around the Province

Shuttered No Frills store causes worry in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood:
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/toronto/parkdale-no-frills-toronto-loblaws-1.3943840

London and area agencies get $1 million from Queen’s Park to fight poverty:
http://www.lfpress.com/2017/01/18/area-poverty-fight-gets-1m-boost-from-queens-park

University of Ottawa law students help people who are homeless:
http://www.metronews.ca/news/ottawa/2017/01/18/university-of-ottawa-law-students-help-homeless.html

South East LHIN offers oral care to low-income families:
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2017/01/30/lhin-offers-oral-care-to-low-income-families

Opinion: A reality check on Hamilton’s renaissance:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7079311-dreschel-a-reality-check-on-hamilton-s-renaissance/

Anti-poverty activists rally behind Hamilton MPP’s social assistance bill:
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/7091554-anti-poverty-activists-rally-behind-hamilton-mpp-s-social-assistance-bill/

Home prices and homelessness rising in Niagara:
http://www.wellandtribune.ca/2017/01/20/home-prices-homelessness-rising

Impact of end of child support clawback from OW and ODSP in Waterloo:
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/7102095-child-support-payments-no-longer-clawed-back-from-social-assistance/

Toronto tenants crushed by rent hike exemptions:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/toronto-tenants-crushed-by-rent-hike-exemptions/article33806825/?cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe

Toronto ranked one of the most unaffordable cities in the world:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2017/01/toronto-ranked-one-most-unaffordable-cities-world/

Keeping Toronto “affordable” will cost us all: Keenan:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/02/01/keeping-toronto-affordable-will-cost-us-all-keenan.html

Kenora program targets poverty: New service to equip people with employment skills:
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/news/kenora-program-targets-poverty-new-service-to-equip-people-with/article_4fb2a8e2-e0b3-11e6-aa3f-930fad788a1a.html

United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and District gets funding for poverty reduction:
http://saultonline.com/2017/02/local-united-way-receives-financial-boost-for-poverty-reduction-strategy/

 

Across the Country

BC’s social safety net is broken:
http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/410956775.html

Vancouver ranked third most unaffordable housing market in the world:
http://globalnews.ca/news/3198292/vancouver-ranked-third-most-unaffordable-housing-market-in-the-world/

Poverty study finds high housing need in Trail, BC, minimum wage far below living wage:
http://thenelsondaily.com/news/poverty-study-finds-high-housing-need-trail-minimum-wage-far-below-living-wage-43681#.WJisNvJWLeQ

Should Newfoundland and Labrador tie minimum wage to inflation? Consultations start February 6:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/minimum-wage-consultations-newfoundland-1.3961751

Birth certificate misspelling hinders EI application in Calgary:
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/birth-certificate-misspelling-hinders-employment-insurance-application-1.3268932

Studies document experience of migrant workers in Saskatchewan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/sask-migrant-workers-studies-1.3964685

 

National

Council of Canadians with Disabilities: Six things to keep in mind when talking about federal accessibility legislation:
http://www.ccdonline.ca/en/socialpolicy/fda/6-things-to-keep-in-mind20Oct2016

Judge orders KPMG to name clients in Isle of Man tax shelter:
http://ipolitics.ca/2017/02/03/judge-orders-kpmg-to-name-clients-in-isle-of-man-tax-shelter/

Federal minister fields questions on basic income at meeting with students:
http://basicincome.org/news/2017/02/quebec-canada-federal-minister-fields-questions-on-basic-income-at-meeting-with-students/

New federal Parliamentary Secretaries list:
http://pm.gc.ca/eng/parliamentary-secretaries

 

International

Republican lawmakers in five states propose bills to criminalize peaceful protest:
https://theintercept.com/2017/01/19/republican-lawmakers-in-five-states-propose-bills-to-criminalize-peaceful-protest/

Massachusetts workers coalition pushes for $15 minimum wage and surtax on millionaires:
http://wwlp.com/2017/01/31/workers-coalition-pushes-for-15-minimum-wage-and-surtax-on-millionaires/

“French Bernie Sanders” becomes Socialist Party favourite with basic income policy position:
http://www.thelocal.fr/20170122/benoit-hamon-the-french-bernie-sanders-goes-from-underdog-to-socialist-favorite

Street homelessness soars to six year high in the UK:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/street-homelessness-rough-sleeping-up-16-to-six-year-high-john-healey-tim-farron-crisis-charity_uk_5888804ce4b0825491510c6a

Opinion: Russia is a mess – the poverty rate in soaring and only 10 of 85 regions are financially stable:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/russia-is-a-mess-the-poverty-rate-is-soaring-and-only-10-of-85-regions-are-financially-stable-2017-01-31

Australia study shows poverty cuts life more than alcohol:
http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/poverty-cuts-life-more-than-alcohol-study/news-story/d5e322c0e760adec2d2e3739df010eb7

Trump considering order that would target immigrants on welfare or likely to rely on welfare:
http://www.journalnow.com/news/nation_world/trump-considering-order-that-would-target-immigrants-on-welfare-or/article_37c483d2-e751-11e6-815c-fbdda288a07a.html

The basic error of Trump’s draft order targeting immigrants on welfare:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/01/31/the-basic-error-of-trumps-draft-order-targeting-immigrants-on-welfare/

Media and Policy News E-list Archive

Primary Sidebar

Blog sidebar

Subscribe

"*" indicates required fields

Name

Income Security Advocacy Centre

Footer widget

1500 – 55 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7
Tel: (416) 597-5820 • Toll Free: 1-866-245-4072 • Fax: (416) 597-5821

  • Contact

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.