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Income Security Advocacy Centre

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Media & Policy News: 8 May 2015

May 8, 2015

Top Stories

Government “truly sorry” for bungled rollout of social assistance computer system:
http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/05/01/liberal-government-truly-sorry-for-bungled-welfare-system-rollout.html

  • Spec coverage: More funds necessary to fix the problems: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/5598108-ontario-may-need-to-pay-more-to-fix-welfare-payment-system/
  • Final report from the consultant here: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/pwc_final_report.aspx
  • Response from OPSEU here: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1529195/jaczek-avoids-responsibility-in-sams-fiasco-opseu

Enforcement blitz finds 83% of workplaces are contravening the Employment Standards Act:
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b32b33961fd1e65272919d8a6&id=366e8033fc&e=51059eb750

  • Ministry of Labour announcement: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/inspections/blitzresults_vtfw.php 
  • Part 1 in series on precarious work: Erratic work scheduling is holding Ontario workers hostage: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/05/03/outdated-employment-standards-act-holding-millions-of-ontario-workers-hostage.html 

Ontario’s affordable housing wait list hits all-time high:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/05/04/ontarios-affordable-housing-wait-list-hits-record-high.html

  • ONPHA’s survey report:http://onpha.on.ca/onpha/web/Policyandresearch/Waiting_lists_2015/Content/PolicyAndResearch/Waiting_Lists_2015/2015_Waiting_Lists_Survey.aspx?hkey=64634a36-b6de-46b2-b76b-39541b2ea497 
  • Editorial: Toronto should endorse inclusionary zoning: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/05/04/toronto-should-endorse-an-obvious-way-to-boost-affordable-housing-editorial.html 

Analysis: $2.7 Billion EI surplus allowed Harper to balance the books; Conservative stakeholders furious:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/2-7b-employment-insurance-surplus-balanced-joe-oliver-s-books-1.3057261

  • Carol Goar: Control political manipulation of the fund: http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/5597718-politicians-help-themselves-to-employment-insurance-funds/ 

Federal Liberals release “Fairness for the Middle Class” plan:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/justin-trudeau-plan-taxes-top-1-to-cut-taxes-boost-benefits-for-middle-class-1.3060323

  • CCPA analysis shows that under the plan “the richest 5% effectively pay for a reduction in taxes for the next richest 15% with little change for any other families”: http://behindthenumbers.ca/2015/05/05/liberal-election-platform-shifts-the-chips-for-the-rich-takes-a-pass-on-the-middle-class/ 
  • Tom Walkom’s take: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/05/a-martians-view-of-justin-trudeaus-middle-class-tax-cuts-walkom.html 
  • Kevin Milligan’s take: http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/let-the-great-family-tax-battle-begin/

Reports, Events, and Other Stuff

John Stapleton / Metcalf Foundation report: The Working Poor in the Toronto Region:
http://metcalffoundation.com/publications-resources/view/the-working-poor-in-the-toronto-region-mapping-working-poverty-in-canadas-richest-city/

Public meetings on poverty coming in Cobourg and Port Hope May 13:
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/2015/05/07/public-meetings-on-poverty-in-port-hope-cobourg

Around the Province

Nurses in Toronto understand that improving health means fighting poverty:
http://www.thestar.com/life/nursing/2015/05/07/for-nurses-improving-health-means-fighting-poverty.html

Tenant organizing in Parkdale prevents landlord from gaining significant rent increases:
https://nowtoronto.com/news/akelius-heels/

London Homeless Coalition’s Soup and Bread Day raises public awareness of hunger and homelessness:
http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/news-story/5597897-helping-the-public-understand-hunger-homelessness/

Thunder Bay District Social Services Admin Board increases eligibility for Housing Security Fund:
http://www.tbnewswatch.com/News/370711/DSABB_increases_eligibility_for_Housing_Security_Fund

Across the Country

Nova Scotia minister “burns the most vulnerable” as that province’s budget creates hardships: http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1283930-bernard-burns-most-vulnerable-as-budget-creates-hardships

  • Nova Scotians on social assistance losing their bus passes as a result of program reviews: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/community-services-cuts-some-bus-passes-for-people-with-disabilities-1.3061257 
  • Nova Scotia minister says there are too many people staying on assistance for “too long”: http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotians-staying-on-income-assistance-longer-than-needed-minister-1.2358364 
  • Analysis: The NS budget should address the question of poverty just as much as the issue of efficiency: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1283959-brighton-province-may-survive-tough-budget 

Lunch on a low income in PEI:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/lunch-and-game-highlight-plight-of-p-e-i-s-low-income-families-1.3059758

Quebec cuts welfare payments for those in drug and alcohol rehab centres:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-welfare-cuts-worry-drug-and-alcohol-rehab-centres-1.3063151

New Vancouver highrise has two entrances – one for condos and one for social housing:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/Vancouver+highrise+have+separate+door+social+housing/11031424/story.html

Opinion: Society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable:
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/west-island-gazette/marla-newhook-why-is-it-so-tough-to-accept-that-every-rule-has-an-exception

National

Mowat Centre study on living conditions demonstrates need to reinstate the long-form census:
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/05/07/living-conditions-study-highlights-need-for-long-form-census-researchers-say

Federal government fails to spend nearly $100 million on promised social services programs:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-government-left-97m-unspent-on-social-services-report-shows-1.3063878

New poll shows Canadians support increasing CPP benefits:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadians-support-increasing-cpp-benefits-poll-finds/article24234182/

  • Government must double CPP to ensure future security: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Dignity+pensions/11029709/story.html 
  • Growing number of seniors declaring bankruptcy: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/growing-number-of-seniors-account-for-ontarios-insolvency-filings-study/article24236617/ 

One-third of Canadians at “high risk” for mental health concerns:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1968323/one-third-of-canadians-at-high-risk-for-mental-health-concerns-poll/

“Bill C-59 gives the Treasury Board minister the power to ignore provisions of the Public Service Labour Relations Act and unilaterally change the terms and conditions of sick leave in the public service and create a new short-term disability program”:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservative-budget-bill-sets-up-battle-with-federal-unions/article24309929/

Over 4000 postcards come from across Canada calling for a national anti-poverty plan:
http://cpj.ca/over-4000-postcards-call-anti-poverty-plan

International

US study shows transportation is critical to escaping poverty:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/upshot/transportation-emerges-as-crucial-to-escaping-poverty.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0

New Missouri law aims to get more people on assistance into work, but where are the jobs?
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/28998245/new-mo-welfare-law-promotes-employment-some-say-jobs-unavailable

Irish study shows fuel poverty comes from low incomes, not high fuel costs:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/study-fuel-poverty-reflects-financial-difficulty-not-heating-costs-329347.html

Got a poverty problem? Deal with it by paying people higher wages:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-a-georgescu/fight-poverty-with-wages_b_7220862.html

US study says strengthening the social safety net will help reduce poverty:
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/05/06/Social-Safety-Net-Lifts-48-Million-Out-Poverty

Report highlights “grotesquely disproportionate” impact of UK welfare reform on women:
http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/3316/report-highlights-grotesquely-disproportionate-impact-of-welfare-reform-on-women/

Study says UK welfare cuts will force 2 million people to resort to food banks each year:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/planned-12bn-tory-welfare-cuts-will-lead-to-two-million-a-year-using-food-banks-says-study-10221475.html

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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.