Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

Media & Policy News: 6 June 2018

Ontario Election 2018: Election Day is Tomorrow!

Don’t forget to vote! Here’s how:
https://www.elections.on.ca/en/voting-in-ontario/how-to-vote.html

TVO: How to vote when you’re homeless:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/how-to-vote-when-youre-homeless

Ontario has 17 new ridings for 2018. Here’s some things to know about the redistribution:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-has-17-new-ridings-for-2018-here-s-some-things-to-know-about-the-redistribution-1.4689716

Reeveley: What happens if nobody wins the election?:
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/reevely-what-happens-if-nobody-wins-the-election

If Ontario Liberals lose “recognized party” status after Thursday’s election, what comes next?:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/if-ontario-liberals-lose-recognized-party-status-after-thursday-s-election-what-comes-next-1.4693261

 

June 6 Op-Ed: Income security reform at stake with Thursday’s election:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/06/income-security-reform-at-stake-with-thursdays-election.html

June 1 Star editorial: Ontario voters should back NDP to stop Doug Ford:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/06/01/ontario-voters-should-back-ndp-to-stop-doug-ford.html

June 4 Star editorial: Young voters in Ontario should make sure their voice is heard this week:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2018/06/04/young-voters-in-ontario-should-make-sure-their-voice-is-heard-this-week.html

June 5 Globe editorial: For Ontario voters, leadership and vision are not on offer:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-globe-editorial-for-ontario-voters-leadership-and-vision-are-not-on/

June 3 Globe editorial: Doug Ford’s empty plan for Ontario:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-globe-editorial-doug-fords-empty-plan-for-ontario/

June 2 Globe editorial: The Ontario NDP is stuck in an old groove:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-globe-editorial-the-ontario-ndp-is-stuck-in-a-old-groove/

June 4 Op-Ed: Liberals must vote NDP to protect Ontario’s progressive legacy:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/04/liberals-must-vote-ndp-to-protect-ontarios-progressive-legacy.html

Ed Broadbent: Doug Ford’s plan would increase inequality and advantage the richest and most powerful:
https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2018/06/04/doug-fords-plan-would-increase-inequality-and-advantage-the-richest-and-most-powerful/

 

NDP scores high marks in report on poverty-related health issues:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/02/ndp-scores-high-marks-in-report-on-poverty-related-health-issues.html

Campaign 2000: The results are in: How will the parties address child poverty?:
https://ontariocampaign2000.ca/the-results-are-in-how-will-the-parties-address-child-poverty/

What Ontario’s political parties will do to address our affordable housing and homelessness crisis:
https://housingactionnowto.wordpress.com/2018-provincial-election-what-will-ontarios-political-parties-do-to-address-our-affordable-housing-and-homelessness-crisis/

Chiefs of Ontario: Q&A Responses from the parties:

Report calls for Ontario to keep rental increases reasonable:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/04/report-calls-for-ontario-to-keep-rental-increases-reasonable.html

Where do the Ontario political parties stand on prescription drug coverage?:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/05/where-do-the-ontario-political-parties-stand-on-prescription-drug-coverage.html

Equipment program an election issue for people with disabilities:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/cnib-ottawa-assistive-devices-1.4682815

Childcare promises that Doug Ford, the NDP and the Liberals are making:
https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ontario-election-2018-childcare-campaign-promises/

Thunder Bay group highlights anti-poverty platforms ahead of Ontario election:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/poverty-free-election-1.4691286

Where do three big Ontario political parties stand on these five issues?
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/where-do-three-big-ontario-political-parties-stand-on-these-five-issues

CBC Platform Tracker: Party promises and policies on issues that mean most to Ontario voters: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/platform-tracker-ontario-parties-election-1.4676595

What Ontario voters should ask themselves in the last days of the election campaign:
https://tvo.org/blog/current-affairs/what-ontario-voters-should-ask-themselves-in-the-last-days-of-the-election-campaign

 

Radwanski: Latest controversy to hit Doug Ford could be the most damaging:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-latest-controversy-to-hit-doug-ford-could-be-the-most-damaging-2/

Why Doug Ford’s platform won’t actually save Ontarians money:
https://www.macleans.ca/politics/why-doug-fords-platform-wont-actually-save-ontarians-money/

Ford plan for Ontario: Potential employment impacts:
http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2018/06/04/ford-plan-for-ontario-potential-employment-impacts/

Doug Ford’s PCs would run higher deficits than NDP and Liberals, economists say:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4245631/doug-ford-pcs-deficit-economists/

PC leader challenged to produce health care funding plan:
http://www.nugget.ca/2018/05/31/pc-leader-challenged-to-produce-health-care-funding-plan

Opinion: Minimum wage hike helps pay for food:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/06/03/minimum-wage-hike-helps-pay-for-food.html

Rank and File: What’s at stake in the Ontario election:
http://rankandfile.ca/whats-at-stake-in-the-ontario-election/

Despite election promises, Ontario’s mental health system is ‘not just a simple fix’:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/ontario-election-mental-health-1.4686115

Doing the math on the PC platform:
http://behindthenumbers.ca/2018/06/05/doing-the-math-on-the-pc-platform/

 

Lorinc: Making sense of the most crazy-ass Ontario election ever:
http://spacing.ca/toronto/2018/06/05/lorinc-making-sense-crazy-ass-ontario-election-ever/

Wynne acknowledges election is lost, urges voters to ensure NDP or PC minority:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/wynne-liberals-ontario-election-minority-government-1.4689222

Ontario’s NDP, PCs jockey for majority in wake of Wynne’s early concession:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-grapples-with-wynnes-early-concession-speech-as-pcs-and-ndp/

Wynne hints at supporting minority NDP:
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8645777-wynne-hints-at-supporting-minority-ndp/

Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands Liberal candidate puts his name forward for Liberal leadership:
http://www.recorder.ca/2018/06/04/i-will-stand-for-lib-leader-henderson/

 

In rural Ontario, “the overriding mood is anger”:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/not-something-that-should-happen-homeless-man-spends-dying-hours-at-vancouver-tim-hortons-1.4689842

Ontario Health Coalition takes to the street in effort to save hospital services in Windsor:
http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ontario-health-coalition-takes-to-the-street-in-effort-to-save-hospital-services-in-the-city-of-windsor-1026157608

Countdown to the polls: What are Hamiltonians thinking?:
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/8650606-countdown-to-the-polls-what-are-hamiltonians-thinking-/

If the NDP wants to form government, it’ll need the support of one unlikely riding:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/if-the-ndp-wants-to-form-government-itll-need-the-support-of-one-unlikely-riding

NDP eyes sweep of Toronto’s downtown ridings:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/02/ndp-eyes-sweep-of-torontos-downtown-ridings.html

Just what kind of NDP government would Ontario get?:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/ontario-election-2018-andrea-horwath/

What does the New Democratic Party’s platform promise?:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4249590/ontario-election-ndp-platform/

The NDP claws its way back:
https://jacobinmag.com/2018/06/ndp-election-ontario-liberals-pc

Andrea Horwath slams Doug Ford on his home turf over tax plan:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-andrea-horwath-slams-doug-ford-on-his-home-turf-over-tax-plan/

NDP propose shopping new housing speculation tax:
http://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ndp-propose-whopping-new-housing-speculation-tax

Andrea Horwath promises rent registry to combat “renovictions”:
https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/05/31/andrea-horwath-promises-rent-registry-to-combat-renovictions.html

Ontario election highlights business powered by carbon pricing:
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/05/28/news/ontario-election-highlights-business-powered-carbon-pricing

Local candidates at odds over future of “notorious” Ottawa jail:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/local-candidates-at-odds-over-future-of-notorious-ottawa-jail

MPP candidates discuss their plans for affordable housing in Mississauga:
https://www.insauga.com/ontario-votes-mpp-candidates-discuss-their-plans-for-affordable-housing-in-mississauga

Horwath defends activist candidate, says people do “radical” things for change:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/horwath-radical-candidates-change-1.4685621

Reader letter: Ontario cannot afford another Mike Harris-type government:
http://windsorstar.com/opinion/letters/reader-letter-ontario-cannot-afford-another-mike-harris-type-government

Nine new political parties vying for seats in Ontario election:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fringe-parties-ontario-election-increase-1.4683906

 

June 6: CBC poll tracker: With a day to go, Ontario election is still Doug Ford’s to lose:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-ontario-election-polls-1.4693795

June 6: Final Ipsos poll suggests Doug Ford and PCs headed for a majority:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4256612/ontario-election-ipsos-poll-doug-ford-pc-majority/

June 6: NDP momentum has stalled:
http://lispop.ca/seat-projection/provincial

June 5: With two days to go, new Mainstreet poll finds Doug Ford on pace to win majority government:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-election-2018/with-2-days-to-go-new-poll-finds-doug-ford-on-pace-to-win-majority-government-1.3959636#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=Facebook&_gsc=kQbq2lS

June 4: Ontario NDP and PCs still tied in polls – but here’s why the PCs are projected to win:
https://globalnews.ca/news/4251259/ontario-election-doug-ford-andrea-horwth-prediction/

June 3: New Abacus poll shows NDP with four-point lead over Doug Ford’s PCs in Ontario:
https://www.straight.com/news/1084471/new-poll-shows-ndp-four-point-lead-over-doug-fords-progressive-conservatives-ontario

June 3: Poll consolidation: What could a NDP victory look like:
http://www.tooclosetocall.ca/2018/06/what-could-ndp-victory-look-like.html?m=1

June 1: Without significant changes, Doug Ford on track for majority government: Ekos poll:
http://www.ekospolitics.com/index.php/2018/06/without-significant-changes-doug-ford-on-track-for-majority-government/

 

Millennials are unreliable voters but key to victory in Ontario election Thursday:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2018/06/03/fickle-millennial-vote-key-to-victory-thursday.html

Peterborough-Kawartha may be the closest race in Ontario:
https://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/news-story/8650700-peterborough-kawartha-may-be-the-closest-race-in-ontario-prof/

“It’s super infuriating”: Trans voters react to receiving registration cards with their former names:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/04/its-super-infuriating-trans-voters-react-to-receiving-registration-cards-with-their-former-names.html

Unregistered groups targeting Ontario voters with online ads:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/facebook-ads-ontario-election-1.4693314

 

 

Other Top Stories

How Ontario’s two-speed economy is making inequality worse:
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/how-ontarios-two-speed-economy-is-making-inequality-worse

Understaffing at Ontario workers’ compensation board creates “toxic” work environment:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/05/31/understaffing-at-ontario-workers-compensation-board-creates-toxic-work-environment-union-survey-says.html

Cutting off workers from benefits at 65 unconstitutional, human rights tribunal rules:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/06/04/cutting-off-workers-from-benefits-at-65-unconstitutional-human-rights-tribunal-rules.html

Hussen pledges $50 million for housing for asylum seekers to ease pressure on big cities:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hussen-housing-asylum-seekers-1.4687624

Advocates say Ottawa excluding migrant workers from program review:
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/01/advocates-say-ottawa-excluding-migrant-workers-from-program-review.html

If Canada wants to help the poor, it needs a new way to measure poverty:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-why-canada-needs-an-official-poverty-line/

 

Around the Province

Poverty Roundtable for Hastings Prince Edward identifies causes of poverty, proposes solutions:
http://www.pictongazette.ca/2018/05/31/regional-roundtable-identifies-causes-of-poverty-proposes-solutions/

 

Across the Country

“We’re not looking at the realities of the rental market”: SHIP says Saskatchewan government should index benefits to rental rates:
http://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/most-renters-on-social-assistance-live-with-core-housing-need-human-rights-commission

Homeless tent cities play life saving role and should be embraced, not battled, expert says:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/tent-city-1.4685435

Burnaby Now editor opinion: Homeless need help, not insults:
http://www.burnabynow.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-homeless-need-help-not-insults-1.23320767

Low property taxes help fuel BC’s housing crisis:
http://www.policynote.ca/housing-crisis-fuel/

“Not something that should happen”: Homeless man spends dying hours at Vancouver Tim Hortons:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/not-something-that-should-happen-homeless-man-spends-dying-hours-at-vancouver-tim-hortons-1.4689842

BC’s new minimum wage now in effect:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-s-new-minimum-wage-now-in-effect-1.4687188

BC’s wage increase is the right step forward: Active Support Against Poverty society:
https://www.myprincegeorgenow.com/76488/wage-increase-is-the-right-step-forward-active-support-for-poverty-society/

Elderly women, young single moms struggle with poverty in Calgary: Report:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-group-provides-snapshot-of-poverty-in-new-report

 

National

Canada Post, CUPW given 90 days to settle rural, urban pay equity dispute:
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/canada-post-cupw-given-90-days-to-settle-rural-urban-pay-equity-dispute-1.3955224

Concessions won by unions benefit us all:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/monique-keiran-concessions-won-by-unions-benefit-us-all-1.23322187

Federal government looks to AI in addressing issues with immigration system:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-federal-government-looks-to-ai-in-addressing-issues-with-immigration/?cmpid=rss

Tory MPs slammed for high fiving after voting against UN Indigenous rights bill:
https://ipolitics.ca/2018/06/04/tory-mps-slammed-for-high-fiving-after-voting-against-un-indigenous-rights-bill/

For many with disabilities, plastic straws are essential – not frivolous:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-for-many-with-disabilities-plastic-straws-are-essential-not/

 

International

Poor People’s Campaign is the angry response to inequality America needs:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-gerard-poor-peoples-campaign_us_5b086698e4b0fdb2aa538846

Stockton, California to test Basic Income with $500 monthly payments:
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/06/04/stockton-california-to-test-basic-income-with-500-monthly-payments_a_23450672/

California mayor takes on poverty with “no strings” cash handouts:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/video-california-mayor-takes-on-poverty-with-no-strings-cash-handouts/

UN rights expert chides US government’s “systematic assault” on welfare:
https://news.un.org/en/node/1011371/feed

Trump’s welfare policy is unjustified, punitive and cruel:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/extreme-poverty-trump_us_5b118552e4b02143b7cc4af6

Nevada activists push for removing asset limits on welfare programs, which top administrator says has no non-political purpose:
https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/activists-push-for-removing-asset-limits-on-welfare-programs-which-top-administrator-says-has-no-non-political-purpose

“Business as usual” policies won’t save South Africa from poverty and inequality, warns FCC:
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/business-and-economy/2018-06-04-business-as-usual-policies-wont-save-sa-from-poverty-and-inequality-warns-fcc/

From grassroots to government: Meet the women stamping out period poverty in the UK:
https://www.bigissue.com/latest/from-grassroots-to-government-meet-the-women-stamping-out-period-poverty/

How Vienna cracked the case of housing affordability:
https://thetyee.ca/Solutions/2018/06/06/Vienna-Housing-Affordability-Case-Cracked/

Rise of 43% in Scotland’s homeless households in hostels:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-44346974

The Economist: Universal basic income won’t fix problems but will create new ones:
https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/05/31/universal-basic-income-wont-fix-problems-but-will-create-new-ones